OLYMPICS

Departmental Absenteeism

David Davies: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many staff of her Office were recorded absent due to non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate she has made of the (i) cost to her Office and (ii) number of working hours lost due to such absence; and what guidance her Office issued to staff in respect of absence on those days.

Tessa Jowell: Guidance was issued to staff that they should follow Cabinet Office policy on dealing with transport domestic emergencies.
	Short periods of special leave with pay are authorised and recorded by managers and not held centrally. To obtain this information in relation to 2 and 3 February 2009 would represent a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what  (a) capital funds and  (b) resource funds her Office has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Tessa Jowell: No funds have been brought forward from the 2009-10 budget for use in 2008-09 or from the 2010-11 budget for use in 2009-10, and no schemes are being funded in this way.
	As I said in the Annual Report on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games published in January 2009,
	"Our financial report shows that, with a continued, disciplined search for savings and a sensible use of the contingency funds set aside to manage risks, we remain within budget despite the economic downturn. It will not be exceeded".

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 3W, on Olympic Games 2012: facilities, if she will place in the Library a copy of the full final KPMG report on Olympic venues.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) published a redacted version of the KPMG findings on 19 December 2008. A copy of the KPMG findings, which looked at whether cost savings could be made on the 2012 temporary venues, is available in the House Library. For continuing reasons of commercial sensitivity and so as to not prejudice the ODA's and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games discussions and negotiations on contracts they have not yet awarded for the temporary venues, I am unable to place a non-redacted version of the KPMG findings in the Library.

Olympic Games 2012: Facilities

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2008,  Official Report, column 3W, on Olympic Games 2012: facilities, what the  (a) initial estimated and  (b) outturn cost to the public purse was of the KPMG report on Olympic venues.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2009
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) commissioned KPMG from its Financial Services Panel via a call off contract, on an agreed hourly rate, at an estimated cost of £105,000 plus VAT. Additional scope was added to the original remit, to include more venues and more detailed consultation, and therefore the final cost of the KPMG work to the ODA is £175,000 plus VAT.

SCOTLAND

China

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Scottish Executive Ministers in advance of his visit to China as part of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry trade delegation.

Ann McKechin: My officials ensured that the Scottish Executive were aware of my right hon. Friend's visit and will brief them on return from the visit so we can share lessons learned.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel was used by his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Since that date the Scotland Office have only incurred fuel costs on electricity and gas, as shown in the table:
	
		
			   Electricity  Gas 
			 1999-2000(1) 11,855 43,024 
			 2000-01 22,807 78,224 
			 2001-02 19,526 94,866 
			 2002-03 28,439 88,244 
			 2003-04 23,703 88,085 
			 2004-05 23,372 96,362 
			 2005-06 21,650 106,883 
			 2006-07 36,488 105,968 
			 2007-08 26,481 78,669 
			 (1) Part year

Departmental Information Officers

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) communications and  (b) press officers his Department has.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office employs two press and communications officers.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what capital funding his Department has brought forward from its  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 budgets for use in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and to what ends this funding has been allocated.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has no plans to bring forward any of its capital funding from 2009-10 or 2010-11 to use in either 2008-09 or 2009-10.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has no plans to bring forward any of its capital funding to use in either 2008-09 or 2009-10.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his latest estimate is of his Department's capital expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has a capital provision of £100,000 each year and does not expect to exceed this figure in any of the years in question.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Ann McKechin: The cost of producing and printing the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate-General's 2008 annual report was £3,510.69. The Offices have no public service agreements; the Offices performance indicators are published in our annual reports.

Departmental Recycling

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has two buildings, Dover House in London and 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh. Waste removal and recycling for 1 Melville Crescent is arranged under a Scottish government contract and no separate data are available. Data for Dover House are included in the Ministry of Justice and UK Government performance reports.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office has no public service agreements; the Office's performance indicators are published in our annual reports.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1288W, what the cost was to his Department of engaging musicians on each of those two occasions.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office engaged a quartet in January 2007, at a cost of £600 and a musician to play the Clàrsach in September 2007, at a cost of £80.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Drugs

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to curb the local drug industry in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	As the G8 Partner Nation with Afghanistan for Counter Narcotics the UK is committed to supporting the Afghan Government's National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). This is a comprehensive approach that includes strengthening state institutions, developing licit livelihoods and disrupting the drugs trade.
	UK support for the key components of the NDCS includes:
	The establishment the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics which has been supported with a £12.5 million capacity programme since December 2004;
	The promotion of licit alternatives to poppy—the Department for International Development has provided £35 million supporting alternative livelihoods in 2008-09;
	£29 million in 2008-09 has been devoted to supporting interdiction and law enforcement efforts, including the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan—the lead drugs enforcement agency in Afghanistan and supporting the Criminal Justice Task Force which secured 133 convictions, from June to November 2008.
	Progress has been made. In 2008 there was a 19 per cent. reduction in cultivation to 157,000 hectares, and the number of poppy-free provinces increased to 18—over half of the country's 34 provinces.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1518W, how many rounds of  (a) 0.338 ammunition of all natures,  (b) 12 bore shotgun ammunition,  (c) 30 mm armoured fighting vehicle ammunition of all natures,  (d) 30 mm attack helicopter ammunition of all natures and  (e) 105 mm ammunition of all natures were used in Operation Herrick 7.

John Hutton: Officials are collating and validating the data needed and this is taking longer than anticipated. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of the Ministry of Defence's signed PFI deals as well as the equity stakeholders in the project companies are recorded centrally on the Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces, gave on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 308W, to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws).

Departmental Scientists

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in his Department have a science or engineering degree.

Quentin Davies: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes information on its overall expenditure on research in UK Defence Statistics, a copy of which is in the Library of the House and is available online at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=67&pubType=1&thiscontent=10&date=2008-09-24
	The majority of the research expenditure is undertaken by the science/innovation/technology Top Level Budget. The budget for this organisation, including operating costs, was laid out in the Winter Supplementary Estimates 2008-09 as £502 million.
	The wide ranging research activities undertaken by MOD in 2007-08 are described in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts 2007-2008 Volume 1: Annual Performance Report (paragraphs 171 to 183). A copy of this document is also in the Library of the House and is available online at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/MODAnnualReports0708/
	In a recent survey of graduate qualifications in MOD and Dstl, the MOD's Trading Fund Agency undertaking research activities, over 3,350 members of staff declared their first degree to be in either science or engineering. However, this information has been provided voluntarily and is therefore likely to be incomplete.

European Space Situational Awareness Project

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Government are playing in the European Space Situational Awareness Project.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK subscribed to the European Space Agency Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Programme at the ministerial meeting in November 2008. Officials from the British National Space Centre attend the Programme Board that is currently defining the overall programme of activities to be undertaken. The European Defence Agency (EDA) is undertaking activity to determine possible European Military SSA requirements and MOD officials are observing the EDA work in this area.

Gulf of Guinea: Piracy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the attacks taking place; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK Government continues to encourage the Nigerian Government to take forward a holistic peace process for the Niger Delta, which addresses issues of security, development and good governance impacting on the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea more widely.
	We are working with the Nigerians to enhance the capability of their armed forces to deter and manage attacks in the Niger Delta. We have developed a focussed training package on operational planning and effective in-shore small boat patrolling and in the coming financial year will continue to support the development of a Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) near Lagos.
	We have been monitoring piracy in the Gulf of Guinea closely. The attacks stem from a variety of causes, principally a combination of criminality and militancy.

Somalia: Piracy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of  (a) Coalition Task Force (i) 150 and (ii) 151 and  (b) UK forces' contribution to those task forces; and what the cost of that contribution has been.

Bob Ainsworth: There has been an enduring maritime security presence to counter illicit activity in the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean area since November 2001. Combined Task Force 150 has had considerable success in countering drug and people trafficking, and is the longest standing maritime security mission in the region.
	Combined Task Force 151 was established in January 2009 and has a counter piracy mandate. It is too early to assess the effectiveness of this operation, however it has successfully suppressed acts of piracy, and has transferred 16 suspected pirates to regional states for prosecution.
	The UK contribution to the Combined Maritime Forces Operations CTF 150 and 151 is provided by a permanently allocated destroyer or frigate. HMS Portland is currently assigned to this task. Additionally, the UK provides the Deputy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces.
	Seasonal fluctuations in piracy events and changing tactics by the pirates need to be taken into account in assessing the effectiveness of counter-piracy operations. As well as military operations, the adoption of recommended avoidance techniques by merchant vessels, and the utilisation of the internationally recognised transit corridor, are also having a positive affect.
	The cost of the Royal Navy's long standing commitment to CTF 150, and more recently 151, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Prosecutions: Supermarkets

Sally Keeble: To ask the Solicitor-General how many times the five largest supermarket chains have been prosecuted for offences relating to the sale of alcohol in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice holds information on defendants (persons and others) proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Although the category of 'others' includes companies and public bodies, etc. it is not possible to separately identify supermarkets from others.

TRANSPORT

A120: Essex

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice the Highways Agency has given to  (a) his Department and  (b) other interested parties in respect of the upgrade of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey.

Paul Clark: Following the 2005 public consultation on proposals to upgrade the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey, the Highways Agency has undertaken a review of comments made by the public, which included a number of suggestions for alternative routes. This resulted in further work investigating these suggestions, as well as undertaking further examination of their own proposals. This work has been completed and a summary of the outcomes has been received by the Department for Transport.
	We shall be reviewing the latest advice from the East of England Regional Assembly on regional funding priorities before coming to a decision on how this scheme should be progressed.

Heavy Goods Vehicles: Testing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make an assessment of the effect on the number of heavy goods vehicles travelling along the A650 and A647 of the closure of the vehicle testing station at Steeton;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of the effect on expenditure by business on fuel of the closure of the vehicle testing stations  (a) at Steeton and  (b) across the country as a whole;
	(3)  if he will make an assessment of the effects on the expenditure by  (a) Bradford city council and  (b) other public bodies on fuel from the closure of the vehicle testing stations (i) at Steeton and (ii) across the whole country;
	(4)  if he will make an environmental impact assessment of the closure of the vehicle testing stations at  (a) Steeton and  (b) across the country as a whole

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Department for Transport completed an assessment of their operations to ensure that VOSA meets the requirements of a trading fund. To ensure these are met and to reduce the overcapacity identified in its national estate network VOSA:
	used a matrix to identify and rank potential closure candidates,
	carried out detailed analysis of closure impacts upon the customer base and at adjacent test facilities, and
	completed a business case.
	These did not include assessments as specifically requested and to do so could be done only with disproportionate cost being incurred.

Railways: Accidents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail services were  (a) cancelled and  (b) delayed following high vehicles striking low bridges in the last five years.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold information about delays and cancellations specific to high vehicles striking low bridges.
	Train performance data for the rail network are collected and held by Network Rail. The hon. Member may wish to contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG

Railways: Accidents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving buses and other high vehicles striking low bridges occurred in the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of reported personal injury road accidents involving buses, coaches and heavy good vehicles (HGVs) which struck a bridge on a public highway in the last five years are given in the table:
	
		
			   Number of accidents( 1) 
			 2003 61 
			 2004 59 
			 2005 60 
			 2006 57 
			 2007 82 
			 (1) Includes both roof and side impact to the bridge 
		
	
	Information on the height of bridges or vehicles is not collected.

Roads: Accidents

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) lone drivers in each age group and  (b) drivers in each age group with passengers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of  (a) drivers of vehicles with no passenger casualties and  (b) drivers of vehicles with one or more passenger casualties that were killed in reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain in 2007 are given in the table, broken down by driver age group.
	The number of uninjured passengers involved in accidents is not recorded.
	
		
			  Number of fatalities 
			   Driver( 1 ) killed with no passenger casualties  Driver( 1)  killed with one or more passenger casualties 
			  Age group   
			 0-16 1 2 
			 17-19 81 56 
			 20-24 102 71 
			 25-29 80 24 
			 30-34 64 25 
			 35-39 67 15 
			 40-49 106 31 
			 50-59 96 22 
			 60-69 55 25 
			 70+ 89 35 
			 Total(2) 743 306 
			 (1) Includes drivers of all motor vehicles with exception of motor cycles (2) Includes cases where age was not reported

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Voting Behaviour

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent estimate the Electoral Commission has made of how many and what proportion of people aged (i) 18 to 24, (ii) 25 to 34, (iii) 35 to 44, (iv) 45 to 54, (v) 55 to 64, (vi) 65 to 74, (vii) 75 to 84, (viii) 85 to 94 and (ix) 95 years and over voted in the last general election.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the total number of valid votes cast at the 2005 general election was 27,148,510, representing a turnout of 61.4 per cent. No information is held on the numbers who voted in each age group.
	The commission's report on turnout at the 2005 UK parliamentary general election included the two following estimates for turnout by age group. Both come from surveys: one conducted by MORI based on an aggregation of their pre-election surveys, with a total sample of approximately 18,000 adults; and one conducted by the British Election Study (BES) post-election survey of approximately 4,700 adults.
	
		
			   Turnout ( Percentage ) 
			  Age group  Ipsos MORI  BES 
			 18-24 37 45 
			 25-34 48 52 
			 35-44 61 71 
			 45-54 64 76 
			 55-64 71 84 
			 65+ 75 87 
		
	
	Information is not available for separate groups above the age of 65.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Circuses: Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislation to prohibit the use of non-domesticated animals in circuses; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There is no evidence that the use of non-domesticated animals in circuses is by its nature cruel or compromises an animal's welfare.

TREASURY

Departmental Data Protection

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Interim Report on Data Handling Procedures in Government, 17 December 2007, if he will issue guidance on the use of removable electronic media by staff in his Department.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury continually reassesses its security standards, procedures and risks to ensure that it is providing high levels of security for its data and other assets. Changes have been implemented in response to the Interim Report on Data handling Procedures, and the intention is to further strengthen existing procedures during 2009.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury actively manages its estate, and ensures value for money through managing holdings until the leases expire and, wherever possible, disposing of empty properties. The cost in 2008-09 of maintaining properties was £119,000, of which £41,000 was a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's most recent annual report was published in July 2008 and cost of production and printing was £3,585.
	The Treasury's most recent autumn performance report was published in December 2008 as primarily an online document, and the cost of production and printing was £365.
	Production of these reports involves many teams across the Treasury. As such, it is not possible to isolate other costs relating to the production of these documents without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Work is undertaken by teams across the Treasury which impacts on delivery of its objectives and PSAs. As such, it is not possible to separate the costs of compliance measurement from those of managing performance without incurring disproportionate costs.
	In accordance with central guidance, the Treasury publishes information on cost and resource allocation against its objectives as part of its resource accounts. The most recent resource accounts was published in July 2008.

Government Departments: Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department are responsible for  (a) devising and  (b) monitoring performance against public service agreement targets; and what the annual cost of such staff is.

Angela Eagle: For the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review period, HM Treasury is lead Department for one public service agreement (PSA):
	"Halve the number of children in poverty by 2010-11, on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020 (PSA 9)".
	Work is undertaken by teams across the Treasury which impacts on delivery of this PSA. In addition, DWP, DCSF, HMRC, CLG and DEFRA are delivery partners for this PSA. As such, it is not possible to isolate costs for this PSA without incurring disproportionate costs.
	More information on the Treasury's resources can be found in its Resource Accounts.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department plans to reply to the letter of 30 January 2009 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford Ref: 4/32912/2009, on his constituent, Mr. Simon Payne of Chelmsford.

Angela Eagle: I replied to the hon. Member on 23 February.

Motor Vehicles: Government Assistance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government is taking to provide assistance for car finance businesses during the economic downturn.

Angela Eagle: The Minister for Trade and Investment (Lord Davies) is exploring with the motor finance industry possible options to help improve the flow of liquidity to car finance companies. The issues are complex but discussions on this front are continuing.

Mutual Societies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to encourage the growth of mutual organisations in the financial sector.

Ian Pearson: The Government fully support the mutual sector and have set up an £80 million Growth Fund for Credit Unions to enable them to lend to their members and increase the capacity of the sector to serve the financially excluded. It will shortly be publishing a Legislative Reform Order to update the legislative framework for credit unions and industrial and provident societies.
	Parliament recently passed the Mutual Societies (Transfers) Order 2009 which will enable building societies to transfer their business to the subsidiary of another mutual, as an alternative to full demutualisation. This is the Treasury's first use of the powers in the Building Societies (Funding) Mutual Societies (Transfers) Act 2007, a Private Members Bill supported by the Government.

Private Equity: EU Action

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of proposals for EU regulation of private equity and hedge funds; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government welcome the European Commission's decision to bring forward proposals in this important area and look forward to working with the Commission and other EU member states to reach an agreed position.

Tax Allowances: Motor Vehicles

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the UK premium car industry on changes to their write-down allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Tax Credit Office: Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Chief Executive of the Tax Credit Office to reply to the hon. Member for Totnes' letters of 5 February and 3 March 2009, on the issues surrounding Mrs. Yvonne Allen of Salcombe's working tax credits following the loss of her records by HM Revenue and Customs.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs have advised me that they will reply to the hon. Member shortly and apologise for the delay in doing so.

TNT

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions Ministers have had with the Financial Services Authority in respect of TNT since 2005.

Ian Pearson: Ministers and officials meet the FSA on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues.

TNT

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have received representations from the European Commission on the under-reporting of profits by subsidiary companies of TPG in  (a) Belgium,  (b) the Netherlands,  (c) Germany and  (d) France between 2004 and 2006.

Stephen Timms: HMRC are not able to provide such information about individual businesses because to do so would breach taxpayer confidentiality.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) 20 highest and  (b) 20 lowest proposed average (i) borough and (ii) county council tax rises in percentage terms between 2008-09 and 2009-10 were.

John Healey: Details of the changes in percentage terms in council tax between 2008-09 and 2009-10 can be found in the statistical release "Levels of council tax set by local authorities England 2009-10" that was published on the Communities and Local Government website on 26 March 2009. It can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/counciltax200910

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps have been taken by  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: The Department has made a number of changes to the thermal efficiency of its buildings over the last 12 months. These include fitting solar film to glazing to reduce solar gain and improved housekeeping to ensure doors are closed in back of house areas to reduce draughts.
	Of the Department's agencies, the Fire Service College has installed thermal insulation in the ceiling voids of recently refurbished offices, and the Planning Inspectorate has added solar film to windows and replaced sliding doors to reduce cold air ingress.
	As well as improving thermal efficiency, the Department has taken numerous other measures to reduce energy consumption in its buildings. Gas and electricity consumption was reduced in Communities' main headquarter building in 2007-08 by 37 per cent. and 22 per cent. respectively, compared to the previous year.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel has been used by (i) her Department and (ii) each of its agencies since her Department's establishment.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government and its agencies have used the following amounts of electricity, gas and fuel since the Department's inception.
	
		
			  kWh 
			2006-07  2007-08 
			 London Headquarters(1) Electricity 13,018,289 10,850,743 
			  Gas 8,769,886 6,329,978 
			 Executive Agencies(2) Electricity 12,889,192 11,751,470 
			  Gas 17,752,968 18,084,384 
			 (1) These figures do not include data from the regional Government offices. (2) These figures include data from the Department's office and non-office estate. 
		
	
	Central Government Departments and their Executive agencies are required to report performance data on their energy consumption for their office estate annually as part of the Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) reporting process, to assess performance against the target to reduce carbon emissions from offices by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11.
	The latest assessment of Government's performance against these targets was published by the Sustainable Development Commission on 12 December 2008 at:
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/sdig2008/

Empty Property

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of empty dwellings owned by banks and building societies in each year since 2000; and what her most recent estimate is of the number owned by building societies.

John Healey: This information is not collected centrally.

Fire Services: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the minimum number of staff required  (a) in each regional control centre and  (b) to staff the national network of regional control centres to meet the needs of national resilience; on what date each regional control centre was completed; what expenditure has been incurred in respect of each regional control centre since its completion; what estimate she has made of such costs in the period between completion and cut over for each centre; and what expenditure her Department has incurred on consultants engaged to work on the FiReControl project to date.

Sadiq Khan: Information on staffing is included in the "FiReControl Business Case: the National Case" published in November 2008—a copy of the Business Case is available in the House Library. The actual number of staff to be employed within each regional control centre is a matter for each regional local authority controlled company who will be the employers.
	To the end of February 2009 the cost of consultancy services for the FiReControl project totalled £45.3 million and this is taken into account within the overall project implementation costs outlined in the Business Case.
	The costs from practical completion of each regional control centre until the end of February are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Cost (£) 
			 NE 2,077,812.95 
			 EM 2,355,080.31 
			 SW 2,066,107.64 
			 WM 1,229,656.29 
			 SE 954,928.46 
			 NW 666,730.56 
			 Y&H 422,224.78 
			 EoE 313,686.38 
		
	
	The anticipated costs per month until the current planned cutover dates are:
	
		
			   Cost (£) 
			 NE 148,939.00 
			 EM 154,038.83 
			 SW 154,893.58 
			 WM 167,824.67 
			 SE 173,668.08 
			 NW 155,403.67 
			 Y&H 152,662.67 
			 EoE 166,064.17 
			 London 118,744.33

Fire Services: Trade Unions

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken in response to allegations made to it of bullying by members of one trade union of members from another trade union in the Fire and Rescue Service.

Sadiq Khan: The Government are firmly committed to eradicating bullying and all other forms of unacceptable workplace behaviour, whatever their cause, from the culture of the Fire and Rescue Service.
	In May 2008 Communities and Local Government published the 10-year Fire and Rescue Service Equality and Diversity Strategy. The strategy requires fire and rescue services to tackle current inequalities, promote equality, diversity and fairness and establish a culture which enables the service to meet the needs of all our diverse communities.
	The strategy states that bullying and harassment will not be tolerated in any part of the organisation. It includes both a specific requirement on fire and rescue services to:
	"ensure that bullying, harassment, unfair discrimination and unacceptable behaviours are dealt with fairly, quickly and transparently" and on staff to " challenge and report bullying, harassment, unfair discrimination and unacceptable behaviours."
	All the unions representing fire and rescue service staff were involved in the development of the strategy and formally confirmed their commitment to supporting the implementation of the strategy through the leadership of their organisations. The 2009 Equality and Diversity Report was published on 10 March. This report includes a National Action Plan developed to support the implementation of the strategy. One of the expected outcomes of the Action Plan is an improvement in workplace culture.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of business rates as a proportion of turnover for  (a) independent high street retail outlets,  (b) chain high street retail outlets and  (c) out-of-town supermarkets.

John Healey: No such estimates have been made by Communities and Local Government.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses in each constituency will be paying more than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 15 per cent.,  (c) 20 per cent. and  (d) 25 per cent. more in business rates in 2009-10 than in 2008-09 following the end of transitional relief.

John Healey: This information is not collected centrally.

Non-Domestic Rates: Business

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the effect of the end of transitional business relief on small and medium-sized enterprises in  (a) the Guildford Borough Council area,  (b) the Waverley Borough Council area and  (c) England.

John Healey: It is not possible to separately identify small and medium-sized enterprises entitled to and therefore potentially affected by the end of transitional business rate relief.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the policy of  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies is on whether payment of any workplace parking levy in respect of staff who are entitled to a workplace parking space in an area which is liable to such a levy should be made by (i) the public authority or (ii) the staff member.

Sadiq Khan: There are no workplace parking levy schemes in operation in England. Until a scheme may be introduced and the regulations applying to that scheme are known, it is not possible to provide further information.

Railways: East of England

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations her Department has received on the effects on local businesses and residents of the re-opening of the railway line between Bedford and Cambridge.

Sadiq Khan: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and her Department has received no representations about the effects on local business and residents of the re-opening of the railway line between Bedford and Cambridge.

Regional Planning and Development: Equality

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost of conducting equality impact assessments in respect of  (a) the Government Office for the East of England and  (b) Opportunity Peterborough in 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: Within Government offices equality impact assessments are undertaken by the line manager responsible for any change to an area of policy or approach. Due to the differences in grades and salaries and time needed to undertake initial screening to full impact assessments it is not possible for Government office in the east of England to estimate the cost of equality impact assessments in 2008-09.
	Communities and Local Government's Funding Agreement for Opportunity Peterborough sets out a requirement to have in place a race equality scheme and a gender equality scheme, and to carry out race impact assessments for projects where appropriate. It is for Opportunity Peterborough to decide how to meet these requirements. The Department has made no assessment of the costs of doing so.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Church of Scientology

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission recognises the Church of Scientology as a religion or faith.

Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission recognises all religions, faiths and beliefs in terms of its duties to protect people from discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief. It is up to the courts to decide whether Scientology is a religion or faith within the terms of the Equality Act 2006.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality which training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by (i) civil servants and (ii) Ministers in the Government Equalities Office in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office are unable to supply the information requested as it can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 156, on rape crisis centres, on what date her officials initiated discussions with Rape Crisis England and Wales and the Survivors Trust on rape crisis centre funding for the forthcoming financial year; which Ministers she has met to discuss funding for rape crisis centres since 1 January 2009; and how many such meetings have been held.

Maria Eagle: Government officials have been working on an ongoing basis with Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and The Survivors' Trust on sustainability and funding to the sexual violence voluntary sector. Meetings have been held at official and ministerial level. I would like to thank both Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and the Survivors' Trust for their constructive and ongoing dialogue and support in this regard.
	I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on this matter through the Inter Ministerial Group on Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence.

Training: Equal Opportunities

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many civil servants in the Government Equalities Office have attended an equality and diversity course in the last 12 months; and at what cost to the public purse.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office has delivered workshops for all staff on Discrimination Law and Understanding Diversity during the last 12 months at a cost of £705. A further six staff have attended free seminars on Understanding Diversity and Understanding Equality Law.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Legislation

John Baron: To ask the Leader of the House with reference to the ministerial correction of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 3-4MC, on the Parliamentary session, how many hours the House spent considering  (a) primary and  (b) delegated legislation on the floor of the House in the 2007-08 Session.

Chris Bryant: The information requested is published in the Sessional Returns for Session 2007-08 (HC 1 of Session 2008-09), pages 34-36 and can be found online at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/csession/1/001.pdf

NORTHERN IRELAND

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office does not make Christmas bonus payments to staff. Individual members of staff have been granted additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping at the discretion of local line management.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, will have no change in the annual cost of maintaining empty public buildings resulting from the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: Considerable work has been carried out in the last few years at Hillsborough Castle to make the building more energy efficient, including investment in renewable energy systems and more energy efficient plant, improving building services management systems, increasing insulation and increasing use of energy efficient light bulbs.
	In addition in the last 12 months, all new modular and portable buildings in the Northern Ireland Prison Service agency's estate have been specified to meet the NI building regulations requirements in relation to the conservation of fuel and power. Thermal efficiencies include insulated walls and floors and double glazed windows. Thermal efficiency in existing buildings was improved prior to the period covered by this question.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what  (a) capital funds and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, has made no plans to bring forward capital or resource funds from (a) 2009-10 or (b) 2010-11 budgets for use in 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The cost of measuring compliance with targets under the Northern Ireland Office's public service agreements is not held centrally within my Department. The cost of generating these data or breaking down existing data in this way would incur disproportionate costs.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Death Certificates

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many death certificates included the words pressure sores in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many death certificates included the words pressure sores in each of the last five years. (268015)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths where pressure ulcer was mentioned on the death certificate, in England and Wales, for 2003 to 2007 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths with any mention of pressure ulcer on the death certificate( 1) , England and Wales( 2) , 2003-07( 3) 
			  Persons 
			   Deaths 
			 2003 1,036 
			 2004 938 
			 2005 1,046 
			 2006 995 
			 2007 1,045 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code 1.89 (Decubitus ulcer, bedsore, plaster ulcer or pressure ulcer) where it appeared anywhere on the death certificate. (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Death: Prostate Cancer

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the  (a) unstandardised and  (b) standardised mortality rate from prostate cancer in each (i) Government office region and (ii) Parliamentary constituency was in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the  (a) unstandardised and  (b) standardised mortality rate from prostate cancer was in each year from 1997 to 2007 by (i) Government Office Region and (ii) Parliamentary constituency. (267745)
	The tables attached provide the  (a) unstandardised and  (b) age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population, where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death, for (i) government office regions and Wales, from 1997 to 2007 (the latest year available) (Tables 1 and 2 respectively); and (ii) parliamentary constituencies in England and Wales, for the years 2001 to 2007 (the only period available) (Tables 3 and 4 respectively). A copy of Tables 3 and 4 has been placed in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Table 1: Unstandardised mortality rates per 100,000 population( 1)  where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death( 2) , Government office regions and Wales, 1997  to  2007( 3, 4) 
			  Death rate per 100,000 males 
			  Region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 30 31 30 29 31 33 33 37 32 37 36 
			 North West 31 32 32 32 34 33 32 32 33 30 34 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 34 31 33 32 31 32 36 35 32 34 33 
			 East Midlands 35 34 33 33 33 35 37 36 35 35 37 
			 West Midlands 33 34 33 32 37 35 36 36 34 36 36 
			 East of England 34 34 35 34 38 40 37 38 37 38 37 
			 London 26 26 26 23 26 26 24 26 26 23 23 
			 South East 37 38 38 35 37 39 39 36 36 37 37 
			 South West 44 44 42 42 42 42 44 44 45 43 42 
			 
			 England 34 34 34 32 34 35 35 35 34 34 34 
			 Wales 38 35 34 35 44 38 41 44 36 38 38 
			 (1) Unstandardised mortality rates per 100,000 population. Unstandardised rates do not allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages.  (2) Cause of death for prostate cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 185 for the years 1997-2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C61 from 2001. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from this cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years.  (3) Based on boundaries as of 2009.  (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population( 1)  where prostate cancer was the underlying cause of death( 2) , Government office regions and Wales, 1997  to  2007( 3, 4) 
			  Death rate per 100,000 males 
			  Region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 26 27 26 23 25 26 25 28 23 27 25 
			 North West 27 27 27 27 28 27 26 25 26 23 25 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 28 26 26 26 25 25 28 27 24 25 24 
			 East Midlands 29 28 27 26 26 27 28 27 26 25 26 
			 West Midlands 28 28 28 26 29 28 28 27 25 27 25 
			 East of England 27 27 26 26 28 29 27 27 26 26 24 
			 London 25 26 26 23 26 26 25 26 26 23 22 
			 South East 29 30 29 26 27 29 28 26 25 25 25 
			 South West 30 29 27 27 27 27 28 27 28 25 25 
			 England 28 28 27 26 27 27 27 26 26 25 25 
			 Wales 29 27 26 26 32 26 29 30 24 25 25 
			 (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages.  (2) Cause of death for prostate cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 185 for the years 1997-2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C61 from 2001. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from this cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years.  (3) Based on boundaries as of 2009.  (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Kevin Brennan: The additional cost to the Cabinet Office in 2008-09 introduced by the changes to empty property rate relief in 2008-09 was £44,219.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Kevin Brennan: The publication and printing costs of the Cabinet Office's most recent Annual Report and Accounts for 2007-08 was £47,022 (excluding VAT) and for the 2008 Autumn Performance Report, £8,047.
	Other costs to the Department of producing the reports would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: Cabinet Office leads on one public service agreement (PSA) announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007. This is PSA16, 'Increase the Proportion of Socially Excluded Adults in Settled Accommodation and Employment, Education or Training'.
	Progress is measured by eight indicators using existing data sets. PSA 16 required three additional indicators to be added to the Mental Health Minimum Data Set. The cost of these changes was met by the Department of Health. In addition two new indicators for the learning disabled group were added to the Key Statistics 1 data set at no cost to central Government Departments. All other PSA 16 indicators were part of existing data collections.

Non-profit Making Associations

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the recession on not-for-profit organisations in  (a) Ribble Valley constituency and  (b) England.

Kevin Brennan: The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) is working with key partners to understand the impact of the economic downturn on third sector organisations. At present the available evidence is incomplete and somewhat inconsistent, indicating it is too soon since the start of the downturn to fully evaluate the impact on the sector at a national or constituency level.
	The Government continue to take the difficulties many third sector organisations face during this recession very seriously, which is why the £42.5 million package announced in "Real help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises" provides targeted help for the sector to face these challenges. This package of support was designed together with third sector leaders and took into account submissions from over 80 charities. This action plan builds on the wide range of measures the Government have put in place to support people through the economic downturn, and on the Government's long-term commitment to voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
	The OTS will continue to monitor this situation closely and work with its partners to share evidence on this issue and will host a sector-wide summit on the economic downturn on the 2 June. In addition, the Third Sector Research Centre will also be factoring the impact of the downturn into its analysis of the sector.

Non-profit Making Associations

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many not-for-profit organisations have closed in  (a) Ribble Valley constituency and  (b) England since the start of the recession.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office does not systematically collect data on the number of not-for-profit organisations that have closed since the start of the recession either in the Ribble Valley constituency or across England.

Personal Income: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average annual income per household was in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average annual income per household was in (a) Castle Point and (b) Essex in each of the last five years. (267054)
	Table 1 shows the average net weekly equivalised household income for the East of England, both before and after housing costs, at 2004/05 prices, since 2000/01-2002/03. These figures are based on the Department for Work and Pensions' Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series which is produced using the Family Resources Survey. It is not possible to present results from the HBAI series below the level of Government Office Regions. While HBAI more commonly presents median incomes, mean incomes are also shown here in order to be more comparable with the mean incomes shown for Castle Point Constituency and Essex.
	Table 2 shows average net weekly equivalised household incomes for Castle Point and Essex, before and after housing costs, for the year 2004/05 (in 2004/05 prices). These are based on experimental small area statistics published by the ONS. Figures for other years are unavailable.
	It should be borne in mind that the Government Office Region statistics and the small area statistics are based on different methodologies. It is not possible to separate out methodological differences from real differences. Small differences or changes over time should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average net weekly equivalised household income in the East of England, at 2004 - 05 prices( 1,2,3) 
			  £ per week 
			   Before housing costs( 5)  After housing costs( 5) 
			  2000 - 01 to 2006 - 07( 4)  Median income  Mean income  Median income  Mean income 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 371 449 312 379 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 373 449 317 381 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 372 449 317 385 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 371 453 317 392 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 377 456 324 395 
			 (1) Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, national insurance contributions and council tax. (2) East of England as defined by Government office region. (3) All figures have been rounded to the nearest pound. (4) Three-year averages have been presented, as single year estimates would be subject to volatility. (5) Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges.  Source: 'Households Below Average Income', Department for Work and Pensions 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Average weekly household income for Castle Point constituency and Essex( 1,2) , 2004-05 
			  £ per week 
			   Net weekly equivalised household income (before housing costs)( 2)  Net weekly equivalised household income (after housing costs)( 2) 
			 Castle Point constituency 420 390 
			 Essex 460 410 
			 (1) Net income is gross income minus income tax payments, national insurance contributions, contributions to occupational pension schemes, all maintenance and child support payments. (2) Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges.  Source: Office for National Statistics and Department for Work and Pensions

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Further Education: Capital Investment

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), which colleges have been granted approval in principle; which colleges have pending bids to the national Learning and Skills Council for approval in principle; and which colleges have been given funding by the Learning and Skills Council to carry out feasibility studies into proposed capital building projects.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for Further Education colleges is administrated by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested pertains to decisions and records held by the Council, I have asked Geoff Russell, the LSC Acting Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Further Education: Capital Investment

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Holland and the Deepings of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 904W, on further education: finance, when he plans to place in the Library the copy of the letter.

Si�n Simon: I understand that Mark Haysom, the then chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council, wrote to the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) on 23 March. A copy of that letter should be available in the House Libraries shortly.

Further Education: Capital Investment

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which Parliamentary constituencies have further education colleges with capital funding bids awaiting final approval by the Learning and Skills Council; and how many such bids there are for colleges within each of those constituencies.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for Further Education colleges is administrated by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested pertains to records held by the Council, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Further Education: Capital Investment

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 55-6WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), what steps the Learning and Skills Council has taken to keep interested hon. Members informed on the progress and status of schemes in their area.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for Further Education colleges is administrated by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested pertains to communications activity undertaken by the Council, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the further information requested. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Libraries.

Further Education: Governing Bodies

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many times the Learning and Skills Council has used its powers under section 11 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 since 1 January 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The power set out at Section 11 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, enables the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to appoint up to two persons to the governing body of a further education (FE) college. This power is a general power which enables the LSC to appoint additional governors to a college corporation to provide additional skills, knowledge or expertise as appropriate.
	The power may also be used as part of an intervention response. However, the power is independent of the LSC's powers of intervention and evidence of failure is not a pre-condition for the power to be used.
	The LSC has confirmed that, since its creation on 1 April 2001, it has used the power on 33 occasions, appointing a total of 51 governors.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

British Library

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the digitisation of manuscripts held by the British Library; how many manuscripts held by the British Library have been digitised in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The digitisation of its manuscripts is a matter for the British Library. The British Library advises that it has digitised 11,000 manuscripts in the last five years. The figure is made up of material digitised primarily from the mediaeval and earlier manuscripts projects and the international Dunhuang project.

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not have any buildings that are owned or operated under a private finance initiative.

Departmental Cost-effectiveness

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his Department's most recent simplification plan, what reductions were made to its total administrative burden in each year since 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Administrative burdens reductions in each year since 2005-06 were as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 97.2 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 58.9 
			 2008-09 (to date) 0 
		
	
	The baseline figure for administrative burdens as a result of DCMS regulation at the start of 2005-06 was 343.3 million.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The buildings occupied by the Department are leased not owned.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure his Department has incurred on its Second Life website in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department does not have a Second Life website.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which campaigns his Department has officially supported in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department regularly listens to views from a wide range of stakeholders, including the public. A list of campaigns that have been formally or informally supported by the Department is not held in the manner requested.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what capital funding his Department has brought forward from its  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 budgets for use in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and to what ends this funding has been allocated.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 356W.

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The costs of the departmental annual report and autumn performance report for 2008 were as follows:
	(i) Departmental annual report26,600 for production and 6,736 for printing
	(ii) Autumn performance report1,694 for production and 661 for printing

Departmental Recycling

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following proportion of waste was recycled by the Department:
	2007: 54 per cent.
	2008: 69 per cent.

Departmental Scientists

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's budget for scientific advice and research is in 2008-09; for what purposes the equivalent budget for 2007-08 was used; and how many people employed in his Department have a science or engineering degree.

Barbara Follett: The DCMS budget for scientific advice and research in 2008-09 is 1,000,000. The equivalent budget in 2007-08 was used to fund a variety of projects ranging from demand for culture, attitudes to the Olympic legacy to climate change impacts on our sectors and purchasing tourism statistics.
	We do not keep staff records based on degree content or classification so cannot say how many staff have a science or engineering degree.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the last 12 months, DCMS has not incurred any costs in measuring compliance with its targets.
	Data are drawn from a number of sources, none of which are collected solely for the purpose of measuring compliance. In a number of cases, the data sources are funded by other Departments or organisations.
	Furthermore, the information used to measure the Department's PSA targets would be compiled regardless of PSA reporting requirements, as they relate to key areas of departmental performance which we monitor on an ongoing basis.
	Summary information for each PSA is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Spending period  PSA  Lead Department  Any costs incurred by DCMS to measure compliance? 
			 SR2002 PSA3improve productivity of tourism, creative and leisure industries DCMS No. Data drawn from existing sources (Annual Business Inquiry, ONS). 
			 
			 SR2004 PSA1increase the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport DCSF/DCMS No. Costs met by DCSF. 
			  PSA2halt the year on year increase in obesity among children DH/DCSF No. 
			  PSA3increase take-up of culture and sporting opportunities by priority groups DCMS No. Measured using Taking Part survey which exists to inform Department's evidence base and drive delivery. 
			  PSA4improve productivity of tourism, creative and leisure industries DCMS No. Data drawn from existing sources (Annual Business Inquiry, ONS). 
			 
			 CSR07 PSA22Olympic and Paralympic Games with a sustainable legacy DCMS No. Data drawn from other sources (primarily ODA) and compiled for performance management purposes. Child participation data collected and funded by DCSF. 
			  PSAA21Indicator 6increase percentage of adults who participate in culture or sport DCMS No. Measured using Taking Part survey which exists to inform Department's evidence base and drive delivery.

Digital Broadcasting

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on advertising and communications relating to the digital switchover to date.

Andy Burnham: The public information campaign for digital TV switchover is being handled by Digital UK, an independent, not-for-profit organisation, established by the broadcasting industry to lead the switchover programme. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 324W, which are the most recently available figures.

eBay: Antiquities

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the British Museum's monitoring of potential treasure finds on eBay; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: No formal assessment has been made of the British Museum's monitoring of potential treasure finds on eBay. However, I welcome the fact that, since the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the British Museum concluded an agreement with eBay in October 2006 to monitor the site for cases of unreported treasure, the number of instances of potential treasure identified for sale on the site by the British Museum has decreased.

eBay: Antiquities

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions the Government has had with representatives of eBay to prevent antiquities being sold unlawfully through eBay; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Government have not held any recent discussions with eBay on this issue. In October 2006 the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the British Museum (BM) concluded an agreement with eBay for the BM to monitor the site for cases of unreported treasure. The British Museum has continued to do so since that date.

Gambling Commission

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent consideration the Government has given to a change in the regulatory powers of the Gambling Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government have not given any recent consideration to any specific change in the regulatory powers of the Gambling Commission. However, the regulatory framework is kept under regular review to ensure that the Commission has the necessary powers to regulate gambling in Great Britain effectively.

Goldman Sachs

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 974W, on departmental bank services, what the monetary value is of the contract between his Department and Goldman Sachs.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In relation to this contract between the Department and Goldman Sachs the monetary value was 43,573.

Horserace Totalisator Board

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the gross gaming yield was for the Tote in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Tote have advised that gambling machine yearly revenue totals from its UK licensed betting offices (LBOs) were:
	
		
			   Amount in  millions 
			 2006-07 45.2 
			 2005-06 38.9 
			 2004-05 29.1 
		
	
	The totals show all revenue from gambling machines in LBOs. This revenue is not limited to that derived from category B2 gambling machine play, but includes other types of gambling machines/play previously and currently utilised in LBOs.
	The totals are also shown before payment of value added tax (gross profits tax before December 2005), amusement machine license duty and operating costs.

Regional Ministers: Travel

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the East of England in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No claims have been made.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution: Radio

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations his Department has received on the effect of radio licensing fees on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	This Department receives representations on many issues, a small number of these expressed concern about the level of radio licensing fees that the RNLI pays.
	I understand that the RNLI pays fees for the radio channels it uses in its own right on the same basis as other maritime users such as ports and marinas but, as a charity, the RNLI receives a 50 per cent. discount. Under proposals of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), the RNLI and other charities will continue to benefit from the 50 per cent. discount. It will also be possible under the proposals for large, geographically spread users to save costs by getting a 'volume discount', and taking out UK-wide licences. Since the initial consultation opened, Ofcom clarified that the proposals they were consulting on would actually see the level of fees that the RNLI pays, halved.
	No fees are payable by RNLI, or other charities, for channels specifically intended for search and rescue. The licences for these channels are held by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
	Ofcom expect to consult again on this subject before any changes are implemented.

St. George's Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer given on 22 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1584-5W, on St. George's Day 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received on the promotion of St. George's Day; and which  (a) groups and  (b) individuals submitted such representations;
	(2)  how many items of correspondence his Department has received regarding St. George's Day since 13 January 2009.

Barbara Follett: As at 24 March the Department had received four items of correspondence with St. George's Day as its main subject since 13 January.
	All four letters were from Members of Parliament. The Department holds no records of further representations on this subject during this time period.
	As I stated in my response of 22 January to the hon. Member, it is possible that further correspondence could mention St. George's Day as a secondary issue, but this correspondence could be identified only at disproportionate cost.

Television: Concessions

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners over the age of 75 resident in Bolton received a free television licence in 2008.

Andy Burnham: This is a matter for the BBC and my Department does not hold this information. We normally estimate this on a constituency basis, but this would not be appropriate to answer this question. I have, therefore, asked the BBC's head of revenue management to consider the question raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Tourism: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to promote family-friendly holidays at traditional seaside resorts;
	(2)  how much VisitBritain spent in promoting British seaside destinations in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain have advised that they do not hold figures for how much they have spent promoting British seaside destinations as any such funding would form part of a wider campaign.
	Seaside locations did feature in two recent campaigns, Enjoy England's Waterside and Family Fun. Family holidays and seaside locations will also form part of the value campaign which is due for launch in April 2009.
	One specific step my Department is taking which will support the promotion of family-friendly holidays in seaside towns is the Sea Change programme. This programme places culture at the heart of regenerating England's seaside resorts by investing in arts, public space, cultural assets and heritage projects. The scheme, which will run for three years from 2008-11, giving 45 million in total, will encourage new visitors to coastal areas and help support and enrich existing communities.
	The scheme is being delivered through a partnership involving Arts Council England, the BIG Lottery Fund, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museums, libraries and archives council and the regional development agencies.

JUSTICE

Children: Abuse

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions for child abuse there were in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex in each year for the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The number of persons aged 18 and over proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to child abuse from 1998 to 2007 (latest available) in the Sussex police force area can be viewed in the following table. Information held centrally cannot be broken down sufficiently to supply data for Eastbourne or East Sussex, thus Sussex police force area data have been provided in lieu. Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	As there is no specific offence of child abuse, statistics are only provided where the victim can be identified as a child from the description of the offence. Furthermore the term child abuse describes harm caused to a child arising from emotional, physical, sexual abuse or neglect caused by a parent or carer. A number of other offences such as offences against the person including assault may frequently be used by the police to charge offenders.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of defendants aged 18 and over proceeded against at all courts for offences relating to child abuse in Sussex police force area 1998 to 2007( 1,2) 
			Proceeded against 
			  Statute  Offence description  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 S.5(3) Causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
			 
			 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Sec. 1 Cruelty to or neglect of children 14 15 15 12 11 10 7 14 3 13 
			 
			 Offences against the Person Act 1861 Sec. 27 Abandoning children under two years1  3 
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S. 5(4) Rape of a female child under 13 by a male n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a  3 3  
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.5(4) Rape of a male child under 13 by a male n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a  1  1 
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.7(4) Sexual assault on a female child under 13 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 5 9 7 
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003S.8(1)(2)(3), S.9(1)(a)(b)(c)(ii),(2),(3), S.10(1)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii),(2),(3)(4) Sexual activity involving a child n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 7 7 7 
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003S.16(1)(e)(i)(ii),(2)-(5), S.17(1)(e)(i)(ii),(2)-(5), S.18(1)(f)(ii),(2)-(5)(4) Abuse of a position of trust: Sexual activity with children n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a  2   
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1(5) Rape of a female aged under 16 9 6 1 15 19 8 7 14 14 11 
			 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1(5) Rape of a male aged under 16 1 3 1  1 5 2 3 1  
			 n/a = Not applicable (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 S.5 came into force on 21 March 2005. (4) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004. (5) Prior to 2004 the offences Rape of a female aged under 16 and Rape of a male aged under 16 came under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 section 142.  Source: OCJRE  A: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence  Analysis Unit

Defamation

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to abolish the offence of criminal libel; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Government accept that there is a case for early abolition of the rarely-used offence of defamatory libel. At present, this is an issue on which we are preparing to consult as part of a consultation paper which will focus primarily on certain issues relating to defamation and the internet. However, there will be an opportunity to debate this issue and whether immediate repeal could be justified during the passage of the Coroners and Justice Bill.

Defamation

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to abolish the offences of  (a) sedition and  (b) seditious libel.

Jack Straw: The Government accept that there is a case for abolition of these rarely-used offences. We are considering whether this can sensibly be disentangled from the reform of the law on treason, a project in the Law Commission's 10(th) programme. There will be an opportunity to debate this issue during the passage of the Coroners and Justice Bill.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much  (a) electricity, (b) gas and  (c) other fuel has been used by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies since its inception.

Shahid Malik: The Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007, the table shows the consumption of electricity, gas and other fuel for the year April 2007 to March 2008.
	
		
			   Energy type  Annual consumption (kWh) 
			 MOJ HQ core estate Electricity 20,179,413 
			  Natural gas 7,417,634 
			  Other fuel  
			
			 Her Majesty's Courts Service Electricity 143,502,717 
			  Natural gas 142,798,412 
			  Other fuel 974,467 
			 Tribunals Service Electricity 7,487,197 
			  Natural gas 741,894 
			  Other fuel  
			
			 National Offender Management Service (custodial property) Electricity 316,055,628 
			  Natural gas 810,129,566 
			  Other fuel 166,570,000 
			
			 The National Archives Electricity 12,477,836 
			  Natural gas 7,773,972 
			  Other fuel  
			
			 Her Majesty's Land Registry Electricity 20,687,222 
			  Natural gas 21,252,152 
			  Other fuel 2,533,535

Departmental Freedom of Information

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many requests for Central Clearing House advice on freedom of information requests have been received in each quarter since January 2005; what information his Department holds on such requests; what procedures are in place to request central clearance; whether any changes have been made to such procedures since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force; and who within his Department is responsible for providing Central Clearing House advice;
	(2)  how many responses to requests to his Department for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been delayed because of consideration of the public interest test in each year since the Act's entry into force; and how many such requests have subsequently been refused on the basis of a ministerial certification under section 36 of the Act;
	(3)  how many meetings have taken place between the Information Commissioner's Office and his Department since 1 January 2008; and what records his Department holds of the matters discussed at each meeting;
	(4)  how many requests for decision notices under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Information Commissioner's Office has received in each year since the entry into force of the Act; how many have been determined; how many have been  (a) withdrawn and  (b) not progressed to a formal decision notice; and how many remain outstanding;
	(5)  how many requests to the Information Commissioner's Office for decision notices under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been made in respect of  (a) his Department and  (b) its predecessor; how many have resulted in the issue of decision notices; and how many requests remain outstanding;
	(6)  how many staff at each grade in his Department work in its Information Directorate; how many such staff work in its Data Access and Compliance Unit; what changes in the personnel of  (a) that unit and  (b) any other unit undertaking such work there have been since January 2007; and what the reason for each change was;
	(7)  what information his Department holds on the intervention by the Information Commissioner in March 2008 in respect of handling of freedom of information requests by his Department; and what steps have been taken as a consequence;
	(8)  whether any officials from Government departments have been seconded to the Information Commissioner's Office to assist with casework.

Michael Wills: I will write to the hon. Member when I am in a position to do so and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which  (a) agencies and  (b) programmes in his Department are to have a real terms reduction in their budget for 2008-09.

Maria Eagle: As part of the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) Performance and Efficiency programme, committed to delivering 1 billion of saving by March 2011, real terms reductions have been made to the budgets of three of our agencies in 2008-09 as set out in Table 1 as follows. Table 2 demonstrates the estimated change in resource departmental expenditure limits for the National Offender Management Service. Regrettably it is not possible to provide a breakdown of spending levels for all initiatives that might be classified as programmes, as this would result in a disproportionate cost burden.
	The 2008-09 budgets quoted in Table 1 and Table 2 represent the resource DEL position as per the spring supplementary estimates, published on 12 February 2009. The 2007-08 budgets are end of year figures.
	
		
			  Table 1: Change in agency resource departmental expenditure limits (RDEL) 
			  MoJ Agencies  Final 2007-08 budget (RDEL) (000)  Final 2008-09 budget (RDEL) (000)  HMT GDP deflator (December 2008) (000)  Deflated 2008-09 budget (000)  Real terms increase (Percentage) 
			 HMCS 1,076,595 1,235,289 1.0325 1,196,406 11.1 
			 Tribunals Service 302,929 298,654 1.0325 289,253 -4.5 
			 Office of the Public Guardian 1,127 1.100 1.0325 1,065 -5.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Estimated change in resource departmental expenditure limits (RDEL) for NOMS group (excluding non departmental public bodiesYouth Justice Board and Parole Board) 
			  MoJ Agencies  Final 2007-08 budget (RDEL) (000)  Final 2008-09 budget (RDEL) (000)  HMT GDP deflator (December 2008) (000)  Deflated 2008-09 budget (000)  Real terms increase (Percentage) 
			 HM Prison Service 2,057,504 2,178,707 1.0325 2,110,128 2.6 
			 NOMS centre (including private prisons) 1,380,871 1,414,551 1.0325 1,370,025 -0.8 
			 Probation Service 860,281 891,719 1.0325 863,650 0.4 
			 Total NOMS Group 4,298,656 4,484,977 1.0325 4,343,803 1.1 
			  Note. Although the NOMS group existed as part of MoJ in 2007-08, it was created as an agency in 2008-09 following re-organisation within the MoJ. Therefore, the figures for NOMS centre, (which includes expenditure met centrally on local services as well as HQ) for 2008-09, are not comparable with the figure for 2007-08 due to these machinery of Government changes.

Departmental Surveys

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many staff of his Department's Democracy, Constitution and Law directorate responded to the questions in its recent staff survey on  (a) the chance of getting their views heard,  (b) putting their priorities on the agenda,  (c) identifying things most important to them and  (d) identifying thoughts on how the directorate could be a great place to work;
	(2)  how many staff in his Department's Democracy, Constitution and Law directorate have legal qualifications; and how many are qualified  (a) solicitors and  (b) barristers in England and Wales;
	(3)  how many staff of his Department's Democracy, Constitution and Law Directorate there are at each  (a) Senior Civil Service and  (b) other Civil Service pay band;
	(4)  how many personnel work in the Democracy, Constitution and Law Directorate of his Department; how many have  (a) joined and  (b) left the Directorate since its creation; and how many are expected to leave in the next 12 months;
	(5)  what the pay band was of each member of his Department's Democracy, Constitution and Law Directorate who attended its awayday on 29 September 2008; which senior managers in the Directorate attended; where the awayday took place; what the cost to his Department of the awayday was; and what priorities for the Directorate have been set  (a) consequent upon and  (b) subsequent to the event;
	(6)  how many celebratory lunches the Permanent Secretary has hosted for staff of his Department since its establishment; on which date each such event was held; where each such event was held; who attended each such event; what the cost was of  (a) hosting and  (b) staff attendance at each such event; and whether staff attendance at each such event was regarded as part of the normal duties of such staff;
	(7)  how performance against the critical success factor in paragraph 3.1 of his Department's current business model is monitored; and what steps are taken against his Department's staff in circumstances where the standards required under this factor are not met.

Michael Wills: I will write to the hon. Member when I am in a position to do so and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Driving Offences: Motorcycles

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many motorcyclists were prosecuted for riding after their compulsory basic training had lapsed in each of the last 18-months for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The offence of riding motorcycles after compulsory basic training (CBT) has lapsed cannot be separately identified, on the court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice, from similar offences whereby a person drives on a road a motor vehicle of any class otherwise than in accordance with a licence (section 87 Road Traffic Act 1988).

National Offender Management Service: Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average daily rate paid by his Department to consultants provided by ASE Consulting Ltd was in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008; and what equivalent daily rate was paid for such consultants engaged by the National Offender Management Service in each year.

Jack Straw: Disclosing the information requested would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of both the contractor in question and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) because the information requested would (a) give the contractor's competitors a significant indication of their contract pricing mechanisms that could compromise their commercial advantage and (b) give an indication of the NOMS's contractual position regarding its level of contractual pricing in respect of consultancy rates which could detrimentally influence future commercial endeavours. In addition, the information provided applies to sensitive commercial information provided to NOMS by the contractors, a breach of which would be actionable.

Offenders: Suicide

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders committed suicide whilst accommodated in approved premises in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of confirmed suicides of approved premises residents for each calendar year since 2000.
	
		
			  Calendar year  Number of confirmed suicides 
			 2000 8 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 7 
			 2006 1 
			 2007 3 
			 2008 3 
			 2009 to date 0 
		
	
	Each death is tragic and regrettable, and the National Offender Management Service is committed to learning from cases of self-inflicted harm and death, to improve the care of offenders supervised in approved premises. Each approved premises is required to have a policy for the prevention of suicide and self-harm. In addition, each death in an approved premises is investigated by the Prisons and Probation ombudsman, and the ombudsman's reports and recommendations are carefully considered, to inform future policy development.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1217-18W, on performing arts, what the cost was to his Department of engaging  (a) actors for each of the listed initiatives and  (b) musicians for the 18-24 Electoral campaign in 2005-06.

Shahid Malik: The Ministry of Justice spent the following on engaging  (a) actors for each of the listed initiatives and  (b) musicians for the 18-24 Electoral campaign.
	
		
			
			 Victims and Witnesses DVD Going to Court 6,250.00 
			 Domestic Violence DVD You Don't Have to Live in Fear n/a 
			 Community Sentencing CD-ROM Judge for Yourself n/a 
			 Diversity and fairness in the jury system 3,900.00 
			   
			 Musicians for the 18-24 Electoral campaign 0 
			 n/a = Not available. Figures that are not available cannot be broken down from overall project costs and to do so would be disproportionate to cost.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will set a timetable for the closure of the end-of-custody licence scheme.

Jack Straw: As I stated in the House on 3 February I intend to withdraw the end of custody licence scheme (ECL) as soon as we have sufficient capacity within the prison system to do so.

Prisoners Release: Reoffenders

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has paid any  (a) compensation and  (b) ex gratia payments to victims of crimes committed by offenders on (i) end of custody licence, (ii) home detention curfew and (iii) release on temporary licence.

Jack Straw: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) makes payments to innocent victims of violent crime where appropriate. In order to make a compensation payment, there needs to be evidence that an offence has occurred (through a police report) and in some instances evidence of the injury is required (medical report). CICA do not obtain information about the offender whose identity at the time of the claim in any event may not be known or where there has been no conviction.
	Prison Service Order 7,500 authorises ex-gratia payments. There is no central record of such payments. The information requested could be found only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Drugs

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will require the inclusion of positive results for buprenorphine in prisons' mandatory drug testing reports; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Positive results for buprenorphine in prisons' mandatory drug testing will be included in reported data from 1 April 2009.
	The recording of positive tests for buprenorphine began on 1 April 2008. For comparative purposes, data, including and excluding positive tests for buprenorphine will be published for the 2008-09 financial year.

Yorkshire and Humber Offender Management Service: Statistics

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much time was spent by Yorkshire and Humber Offender Management Service recording ethnic monitoring statistics in ( a) 2006,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

Jack Straw: NOMS has a legal duty to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.
	By monitoring the outcomes of policy and practice by ethnic group, we are able to identify any adverse impact on particular groups and take steps to address it. Thereby ensuring that the services we deliver are fair and make best use of resources available.
	The Probation Service is required to monitor the race and ethnicity of every offender under statutory supervision and also the race and ethnicity of every offender upon whom a report is prepared to assist the court with a sentencing decision. Although these data are collected it does not take into account the amount of time that was spent collating it. To collect this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	The following table shows hours spent recording ethnic minority statistics in each establishment in Yorkshire and Humber Offender Management Service.
	
		
			  Hours 
			  Prison  2006  2007  2008  2009( 1) 
			 Askham Grange 52 52 52 52 
			 Everthorpe 144 120 120 120 
			 Hull 72 72 72 72 
			 Leeds 93.36 93.36 93.36 93.36 
			 Lindholme 144 144 144 144 
			 Moorland 660 660 660 660 
			 Newhall 36 36 36 36 
			 Northallerton 320 320 320 320 
			 Wealstun 264 264 264 264 
			 Wetherby (2) (2) (2) (2) 
			 (1) Estimated (2) Nil, as funded by YJB

Young Offender Institutions: Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per day prisoners in young offenders' institutions spent on  (a) education and  (b) other forms of work on average in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table shows the average(1) daily hours per prisoner for the period April 2008 to the end of February 2009 (11 months), the latest available data(2), for each young offender and juvenile establishment.
	We have improved the quality of offender learning, as assessed by Ofsted over the last five years.
	There has been a three-fold increase in the offender learning budget since 2001, rising to over 175 million in 2008-09, and we are increasing by a third, the number of prisoners taking part in education and training since 2006 when our new delivery arrangements were put in place.
	Employment is known to be a key factor in helping to reduce reoffending. The Government's aims therefore are to improve the quantity and quality of offender learning to provide more offenders with the skills and motivation to turn away from crime, improve their employability and become productive members of society.
	(1) Purposeful activity is not routinely reported as a daily average. For this answer, the weekly hours have been divided by five to obtain a weekday average as the majority of activity will take place on weekdays.
	(2) All data is provisional and subject to end year validation.
	
		
			  Weekday hours 
			  Establishment  Classroom education  Other education-related activity  Physical education  Work-related activity  Resettlement-related activity  Faith-based activity  Association( 1)  Court activity 
			 Ashfield 3.18 0.22 1.34 0.15 1.09 0.11 4.39 0.15 
			 Aylesbury 1.14 0.07 0.63 2.12 0.70 0.19 1.35 0.00 
			 Brinsford 1.90 0.07 0.53 2.29 1.00 0.11 2.93 0.24 
			 Castington 1.93 0.02 0.57 1.65 0.69 0.12 2.59 0.13 
			 Cookham Wood 3.36 0.02 1.51 0.13 1.38 0.03 2.73 0.00 
			 Deerbolt 1.53 0.08 0.89 1.55 0.44 0.06 1.22 0.03 
			 Feltham 1.77 0.07 0.63 1.54 1.29 0.22 2.14 0.70 
			 Glen Parva 1.01 0.06 0.56 1.64 0.96 0.08 2.10 0.10 
			 Hindley 2.47 0.03 0.91 1.19 0.80 0.08 2.82 0.08 
			 Huntercombe 2.40 0.16 0.94 1.46 0.70 0.16 1.87 0.07 
			 Lancaster Farms 1.82 0.17 0.46 1.35 1.00 0.08 3.18 0.24 
			 Northallerton 2.01 0.06 0.61 1.52 0.55 0.08 1.82 0.00 
			 Portland 1.22 0.08 0.40 1.80 0.68 0.12 3.87 0.01 
			 Reading 0.97 0.20 0.76 2.11 0.83 0.11 2.69 0.00 
			 Rochester 0.59 0.01 0.64 2.72 0.60 0.25 1.67 0.00 
			 Stoke Heath 1.49 0.07 0.73 2.01 0.79 0.10 1.96 0.08 
			 Swinfen Hall 1.66 0.03 0.61 2.16 0.66 0.10 2.50 0.01 
			 Thorn Cross 2.33 0.06 1.31 3.02 1.43 0.19 6.97 0.00 
			 Warren Hill 3.48 0.06 0.51 0.66 0.88 0.11 2.69 0.12 
			 Werrington 4.00 0.19 0.84 0.67 0.46 0.18 1.08 0.03 
			 Wetherby 2.34 0.00 0.90 1.18 1.94 0.06 2.56 0.13 
			 (1) Association is a daily average over the full seven-day week. All other figures relate to a weekday average.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs have expertise in the links between drug use and psychosis.

Jacqui Smith: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has five members that have specific expertise in the links between drug use and psychosis. Those members are Professor David Nutt (Chair of the ACMD, Professor of Psychopharmacology University of Bristol and Head of the Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Molecular Imaging at Imperial College London), Professor Ilana Crome (Professor of Addiction Psychiatry, Keele University Medical School), Dr. John Marsden (Research Psychologist, Institute of Psychiatry), Ms Carmel Clancy (Principal Lecturer at Middlesex University) and Dr. Mary Rowlands (Consultant Psychiatrist). Further details of which are on the ACMD's web pages:
	www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugslaws/acmd/aboutus/committeesandmembers/listmembers/

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria she uses to assess nominees to her Department's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Jacqui Smith: Appointments to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) are made through open competition in accordance with Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. Applications to join the ACMD are assessed by criteria that are tailored to the specific expertise that is being recruited to the ACMD at the time.

Asylum

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of how long it will take to  (a) clear the backlog of outstanding asylum cases and  (b) deport all those unsuccessful in these cases.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 December 2008
	We are committed to completing the backlog of asylum cases by the summer of 2011. This will of course include cases that are removed from the country. So far 23,500 removals have been effected as at 31 October 2008.

Asylum

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the estimated 450,000 older cases backlog in the Case Resolution Directorate are estimated to be refused asylum seekers.

Jacqui Smith: Of the 450,000 older cases 155,500 cases were concluded at the last update. The backlog contains a huge variety of cases, including errors and duplicates, and the time taken to conclude a case varies greatly, depending on its case type. To obtain the information requested would involve disproportionate cost.

Asylum

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) Afghani,  (b) Belarusian,  (c) Burmese,  (d) Chinese,  (e) Colombian,  (f) Cuban,  (g) Democratic Republic of Congo,  (h) Democratic People's Republic of Korea,  (i) Iranian,  (j) Iraqi,  (k) Israeli,  (l) Nepalese,  (m) Pakistani,  (n) Russian,  (o) Saudi Arabian,  (p) Syrian,  (q) Turkmenistani,  (r) Uzbekistani,  (s) Vietnamese,  (t) Sudanese and  (u) Zimbabwean nationals (i) were refused asylum in the UK in each of the last 12 months and (ii) are awaiting a decision on an asylum application.

Phil Woolas: The following tables show the number of principal applicants refused asylum in the UK over the last 12 months, for which figures have been published, on the requested nationalities. Information on asylum applicants awaiting an initial decision, by nationality, is unavailable and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	Information on main asylum nationalities is published annually and quarterly. The latest quarterly statistics were published on 24 February 2009 and are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Refusals at initial decision on asylum applications to the UK( 1,2) , excluding dependants, 2008 by month 
			   Afghanistan  Belarus  Burma  China  Colombia  Cuba  Dem. Rep. of Congo  Dem. People's Rep. of Korea  Iran  Iraq  Israel 
			 January 105 * * 135 * * 15 5 110 80 * 
			 February 105 5 5 70 *  15 10 100 100 * 
			 March 100  5 45 *  15 5 75 100 * 
			 April 115  5 75  * 15 10 105 95  
			 May 85  5 70 *  15 10 100 65 * 
			 June 100 * 5 85 *  15 10 125 80 * 
			 July 155 5 10 75   20 10 145 105  
			 August 115 5 5 55 5  20 10 105 75 * 
			 September 145 * 5 70 * * 10 5 100 90 * 
			 October 125 * * 50   20 5 155 100 * 
			 November 115 5 * 45   15 5 145 115  
			 December 105  * 35 * * 10 * 105 70  
			 Total 1,365 20 45 810 10 5 185 90 1,365 1,080 10 
		
	
	
		
			   Nepal  Pakistan  Russia  Saudi Arabia  Sudan  Syria  Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan  Vietnam  Zimbabwe 
			 January  50 5  10 5   5 80 
			 February * 60 *  10 5   15 100 
			 March * 60 *  15 5 *  10 90 
			 April * 75 5  5 5  5 5 175 
			 May * 65 *  15 5   10 200 
			 June * 45 5  10 5 *  5 255 
			 July 5 75 5 * 15 15 * * 5 285 
			 August * 55 *  10 10   10 235 
			 September 5 55 5  10 10  * 10 240 
			 October  70 * 5 15 5  * 10 240 
			 November  65 5 5 5 5 5  5 105 
			 December  55 * 5 10 5  * 5 15 
			 Total 15 725 35 15 140 80 5 5 95 2,020 
			 (1) Provisional figures rounded to nearest five ('' = 0, '*' = one or two). (2) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the 2009 project milestones are for the e-Borders programme.

Phil Woolas: The target for handling 100 million passenger movements is now scheduled for end of June 2009.
	The programme remains on track to meet the milestone of capturing 60 per cent. (equivalent of 120 million passenger movements) of all passenger movements by December 2009.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is her Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Phil Woolas: It is not the policy of the Home Office and its agencies to offer staff additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping. Neither is it the policy of the Home Office and its agencies to offer staff Christmas bonus payments.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many staff in her Department and its agencies were  (a) investigated,  (b) disciplined and  (c) dismissed for (i) not following practice and protocols when handling files and databases containing personal information on members of the public, (ii) losing or mishandling sensitive personal data and (iii) gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to personal information in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many staff in her Department and its agencies were  (a) investigated,  (b) disciplined and  (c) dismissed for (i) not following practice and protocols when handling files and databases containing personal information on members of the public, (ii) losing or mishandling sensitive personal data and (iii) gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to personal information in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: Information can be provided only from 2005 onwardsrecords prior to this are not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  2005-06 
			   Investigated  Disciplined  Dismissed 
			   HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB  HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB  HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB 
			 1. Not following practice and protocols when handling files and databases containing personal information on members of the public 0 n/a (1) 0 0 (1) (1) 0 0 (1) (1) 0 
			 2. Losing/mishandling sensitive personal data 0 n/a (1) 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 (1) 0 
			 3. Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to personal information 0 n/a 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  2006 -0 7 
			   Investigated  Disciplined  Dismissed 
			   HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB  HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB  HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB 
			 1. Not following practice and protocols when handling files and databases containing personal information on members of the public 0 n/a 7 0 0 0 6 0 0 (1) 5 0 
			 2. Losing/mishandling sensitive personal data 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 
			 3. Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to personal information 0 n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 -0 8 
			   Investigated  Disciplined  Dismissed 
			   HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB  HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB  HO  UKBA  IPS  CRB 
			 1. Not following practice and protocols when handling files and databases containing personal information on members of the public 0 n/a 9 0 0 (1) 8 0 0 (1) 7 0 
			 2. Losing/mishandling sensitive personal data (1) n/a (1) 0 (1) (1) 0 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 
			 3. Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorised access to personal information (1) n/a 0 0 (1) (1) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 
			 n/a = Not available. UKBA do not record the information in relation to the total number of staff investigated for offences relating to the above categories as the reason for the investigation is not recorded at the investigation stage of the disciplinary process. (1) Where there have been less than five such cases, it is the policy of the Home Office to suppress this information on grounds of confidentiality.

Departmental Lost Property

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether officials in her Department who have lost laptops that were the property of her Department in the last 12 months have been charged the full value of replacement.

Phil Woolas: The majority of the IT equipment used across the Home Office is provided and supported by our IT service providers under contract. Any replacement of IT equipment is an integral part of the contract and is not costed separately.
	It is not the policy of the Home Office to charge members of staff for the replacement value of lost laptops.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Phil Woolas: The Department's expenditure is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Home Office expenditure on magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months (July 2008) 
			   Expenditure () 
			  2006  
			 July 7,365.00 
			 August 5,162.00 
			 September 14,974.00 
			 October 33,321.00 
			 November 13,013.00 
			 December 8,314.00 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 6,874.00 
			 February 4,805.00 
			 March 9,742.00 
			 April 8,546.00 
			 May 5,916.00 
			 June 5,417.00 
			 July 5,943.00 
			 August 6,553.00 
			 September 6,036.00 
			 October 17,128.00 
			 November 22,650.00 
			 December 18,570.00 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 9,186.00 
			 February 6,169.00 
			 March 10,763.00 
			 April 5,151.00 
			 May 4,743.00 
			 June 3,987.00 
			 Total expenditure July 2006 to June 2008 240,328.00 
			  Note: All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity  Propriety.

Departmental Press

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: The suppliers of journals and newspapers to the Home Office can only provide figures for supply to the entire Home Office for the last three years. We do not hold figures for overall Home Office expenditure on these publications prior to this date.
	
		
			  Expenditure on newspapers and journals for period 2006-08 
			   
			   SWETS (journals)  Jones Yarrell (newspapers)  Total 
			 2006 76,091.00 2,476.27 78,567.27 
			 2007 61,406.01 47,938.99 109,345.00 
			 2008 45,998.62 35,846.16 81,844.78

Departmental Publications

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the  (a) production and printing and  (b) other costs to her Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) To the nearest 1,000, the 2008 departmental report cost 34,000 to produce and print, and the 2008 autumn performance report cost 5,000. These figures include the costs of design, typesetting and printing.
	 (b) Producing and reviewing the text and data contained in both documents involves staff across the Home Office and other departments, and it is not possible to produce an estimate of the costs of their time without incurring disproportionate cost.

Detainees: Afghanistan

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 65-67WS, on the Justice and Home Affairs Council, what discussions she had with her EU counterparts on the return of Guantanamo detainees at the lunchtime meeting during the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 26 February 2009.

Jacqui Smith: During the Justice and Home Council on 26 February 2009 I took part in a closed working lunch for Interior Ministers during which there was an informal exchange of views on the situation in Guantanamo. Specifically, for the first time, Interior Ministers discussed the decision by US President Barack Obama to close the Guantanamo detention centre within a year.
	Following discussion in the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26 January, where it was recognised that the primary responsibility for closing Guantanamo rests with the United States, discussions focused on whether there were ways in which member states could assist the United States, given common interests in counter-terrorism, human rights and the rule of law. It was also acknowledged that such potential assistance raised a number of political, legal and security issues which would need further study and consultation.
	Ministers agreed that any decision to accept former detainees was a national decision. Ministers also agreed that further discussion with the United States on this matter was desirable.

Detainees: Immigration

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been detained in immigration removal centres for  (a) working illegally and  (b) offences under section 7 of the Theft Act 1968 in each year since 2001.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold the information requested centrally and it would require each record to be examined individually, which would be at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence: Crime Prevention

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce incidents of domestic violence in  (a) Coventry and  (b) the West Midlands.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 24 March 2009
	Every Government office received 350,000 in 2008-09 to support work to tackle domestic and sexual violence across their region. In Coventry a range of initiatives have been supported such as: early intervention pilots, an independent domestic violence adviser and associated training, a domestic violence enforcement campaign and capacity building to support the roll out of the Coventry Multi Agency Risk Assessment conference.

Group of Twenty: London Summit

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1186-7W, on Group of Twenty: London Summit, how much of the cost to the public purse is accounted for by policing costs.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 24 March 2009
	Policing costs are an operational matter for the Chief Officers of the forces concerned.
	Of the current estimate of 19 million for the costs of the London Summit it is thought that about a third of this is related to policing and security costs.

Illegal Immigrants: Expenditure

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on establishing the identity of  (a) illegal immigrants and  (b) foreign national prisoners in 2008.

Phil Woolas: Efforts to establish the identity of a foreign national typically form a part of overall enforcement activities. As such it is not possible to disaggregate the funding and other resources in place to establish the identity of a foreign national from the overall budget and resources attributed to enforcement activities.
	Appendix A of the UK Border Agency Business Plan for April 2008 to March 2011 contains a table which shows the overall budget allocation and staffing plans for the agency for the current financial year. This document is available to view in the Library of the House and at the following website:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/businessplan

Immigration Controls: Overseas Students

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 636-37W, on immigration controls: educational institutions, what will be acceptable as verifiable evidence that the necessary funds are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The information requested by the hon. Gentleman is set out in paragraph 132 of the Tier 4 Policy guidance. This document is available in the House of Commons Library and has also been published on the UK Border Agency website.

Khat

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider the merits of  (a) controlling and  (b) prohibiting the sale of khat under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Alan Campbell: Pursuant to our commitment in the Government's 2008 Drug Strategy Action Plan, we are currently updating our understanding of the individual and social harms caused by khat use, the needs of khat users and their families, and its impact on the UK Somali, Ethiopian and Yemeni communities. Following the outcome of this research work, we will reconsider our position on the control of khat under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This consideration will look at the various options for control.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 10 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr T Veal.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to provide a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 17 February 2009 to the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency concerning a constituent, reference M3560/9.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency, Lin Homer, wrote to my hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 19 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester Gorton with regard to Rana Faisal Mahmood.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Metropolitan Police: Complaints

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with  (a) the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and  (b) the Metropolitan Police Authority on the steps to be taken by the Metropolitan Police Service following the High Court judgment in the case of Babar Ahmad.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 27 March 2009
	I have noted the High Court decision in the Babar Ahmad case. This is an operational matter and is for the Metropolitan Police Service and the Metropolitan Police Authority.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has allocated to the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each year since its inception.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office funded the National Wildlife Crime Unit in the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 at a total amount of 15,367.28 and then at a total of 150,000 in 2008-09. The increase in the contribution was to secure the unit's continued future operation and to match the level of funding contributed by DEFRA.

Offences Against Children

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish the results of Operation Glover against organised criminal sexual exploitation.

Alan Campbell: Operation Glover was a successful operational policing exercise, the main outcomes of which were contained in pages 32-33 of the July 2008 update of the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking. A copy of the plan was placed in the Library. No formal report of the operation was produced, and no further results will be published.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce levels of knife crime; and what assessment she has made of the efficacy of each type of intervention.

Alan Campbell: In June last year, the Government, with the support of the police service, launched the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) to address the pressing concern around teenage knife crime in England and Wales, focusing resources in 10 areas of the country. In total, over 5 million was given for targeted action. On 11 March, the Home Secretary announced the extension to the Programme for another year, with an extended focus on gang-related and serious youth violence, targeting 13 to 24-year-olds. Two new police forces, Hampshire and Kent, have also now joined the programme.
	In the past 10 months, the TKAP forces and their local areas have undertaken a wide range of work to clamp down on teenage knife violence. This includes enforcement operations, education and other work with schools, and an award-winning marketing campaign.
	Provisional data published by the Department of Health on 12 March show encouraging results to date. In June to November 2008 there were 31 per cent. fewer admissions to NHS hospitals for stab wounds, among those aged 13 to 19 years, in the nine English TKAP areas, compared to the same period last year. This is compared to an 18 per cent. reduction in non-TKAP areas over the same period.

Police: Publicity

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been allocated to advertising the policing pledge on radio in the United Kingdom; and what the objectives of this advertising campaign are.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The Home Office have spent 670,000 on buying radio advertising in England and Wales to advertise the Policing Pledge.
	The campaign's objectives are to raise awareness and understanding of the Policing Pledge, explain the public's entitlement and signpost the public to further sources of information.

Roads: Accidents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions there have been of drivers of high vehicles for offences committed in connection with crashes with low bridges in the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. It is not possible to separately identify offences of dangerous and careless driving from within these offence groups.
	Additionally, data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on court proceedings for motoring offences do not contain information about the type of vehicle involved, other than the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. Information is also not held centrally on the circumstances which were brought to the courts' attention as part of the proceedings.

Stop and Search: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were found to be carrying illegal  (a) weapons and  (b) drugs during stop and search procedures by the police in (i) Bexley and (ii) London in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: Information on the number of arrests arising from stop and search procedures for illegal weapons and drugs in Greater London from 1998-99 (previous data too unreliable) to 2006-07 (latest available) are provided in the table. Information for 2007-08 is due to be published on 30 April 2009.
	The information reported to the Home Office on searches is broken down at police force area level only and cannot separately identify arrests resulting from searches conducted in Bexley.
	
		
			  Number persons arrested for the possession of offensive weapons and drugs after stop and search procedures by police in Greater London( 1) ,1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Stop and searches under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984  Searches in anticipation of violence under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 
			   Arrests for offensive weapons  Arrests for drugs  Number of arrests for possession of offensive weapons or dangerous instruments 
			 1998-99 3,303 15,565  
			 1999-00 2,657 11,692 3 
			 2000-01 2,881 10,848 7 
			 2001-02 3,450 12,293 89 
			 2002-03 3,533 15,912 119 
			 2003-04 2,692 10,845 18 
			 2004-05 2,656 7,747 23 
			 2005-06 3,432 9,746 75 
			 2006-07 3,265 11,197 93 
			 (1) Includes City of London and Metropolitan Police.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Telecommunications: Databases

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1642W, on telecommunications: databases, when the public consultation process will commence.

Jacqui Smith: The communications data consultation publication date is currently being finalised. We intend to publish the document shortly.

Terrorism

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 925W, on terrorism, how much  (a) has been spent and  (b) is expected to be spent by police forces in England and Wales on the delivery of counter-terrorism local profiles.

Vernon Coaker: Production of counter-terrorism local profiles (CTLPs) is a core function of police CT environments, and spending on CTLPs is not recorded separately. However, in order to provide support to the first round of production, we are making total funding of 688,252 available for 2009-10 to forces to increase analytical resources.

Work Permits: Video Games

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to employers in the video games department industry in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: The breakdown of work permits issued to employers in the video games department industry in each of the last 10 years is not available in the format requested. Work permits were issued to employers for individual posts and are not identifiable for this specific sector.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to the then hon. Member for Ilford North of 16 July 1996,  Official Report, columns 494-6, on abortion, if he will make a statement on the statistically most likely candidate in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each health authority for an abortion in the latest year for which figures are available in terms of (i) the marital status of the woman, (ii) the age of the woman, (iii) the gestation of the pregnancy, (iv) the number of previous children born by the woman,  (e) the number of previous abortions undergone by the woman and  (f) the legal grounds under which the abortion was performed; and how many abortions were performed in each health authority in each year since 1979, broken down by the above categories.

Dawn Primarolo: The information for 2007 is shown in the following table. The same information for the previous 28 years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Most common( 1 ) conditions for women having abortions in 2007, by strategic health authority of residence 
			   Marital Status  Age  Gestation  Number of previous children  Number of previous abortions  Ground 
			 England and Wales Single with partner 19  7 0 0 C 
			 East Midlands Single no partner 19 8 0 0 C 
			 East of England Single no partner 19 8 0 0 C 
			 London Single with partner 23 7 0 0 C 
			 North East Single with partner 20 8 0 0 C 
			 North West Single with partner 19 8 0 0 C 
			 South Central Single with partner 19 7 0 0 C 
			 South East Coast Single with partner 18 7 0 0 C 
			 South West Single with partner 19 8 0 0 C 
			 West Midlands Single with partner 20 7 0 0 C 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Single with partner 19 8 0 0 C 
			 Wales Single with partner 19 8 0 0 C 
			 (1) Statistical mode (highest frequency)

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what files his Department holds on  (a) the Termination of Pregnancy Bill of Session 2005-06 and  (b) the Termination of Pregnancy Bill of Session 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There is one registered file held by the Department covering the Termination of Pregnancy Bill of Session 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed within each health authority under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967 in the last 30 years; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on abortions by health authority for 30-years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number of abortions performed in England and Wales on residents of England and Wales in the 30-years from 1978 to 2007, was 4.8 million. Of these, around 160 (0.004 per cent.) were performed under section 1(4) of the Abortion Act 1967, where the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Between 2003 and 2007 totals performed under section 1(4) were less than 10 (between 0 and nine) and are suppressed for reasons of confidentiality in line with Office for National Statistics guidance on the release of abortion statistics (2005).

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many girls and young women aged between  (a) 10 and 16,  (b) 17 and 21,  (c) 22 and 26 and  (d) over 26 years have been hospitalised for alcohol-related conditions in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on the number of individual girls and young women hospitalised for alcohol-related conditions are not available, however data on the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions for girls and young women are available and are given in the following table. It is important to note that:
	an individual may account for more than one admission,
	the data given in the following table are for alcohol-related hospital admissions only, as data are not available centrally from which alcohol-related attendances in accident and emergency (A and E) departments can be identified, and
	most attendances at A and E will not result in admission to hospital.
	
		
			  Finished alcohol-related admissions of females aged 10 or over, 2003-04  to  2007-08 
			  Age  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 10 to 16 4,472 4,869 5,255 5,214 5,408 
			 17 to 21 8,695 9,772 11,729 11,856 13,007 
			 22 to 26 8,444 9,470 11,237 11,634 12,132 
			 Over 26 196,625 221,267 250,859 271,276 295,296 
			  Notes: Includes activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  Alcohol-related admissions: The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO). Following international best practice, the NWPHO methodology includes a wide range of diseases and injuries in which alcohol plays a part and estimates the proportion of cases that are attributable to the consumption of alcohol. Details of the conditions and associated proportions can be found in the report Jones et al. (2008) Alcohol-attributable fractions for England: Alcohol-attributable mortality and hospital admissions. Figures for under 16s only include admissions where one or more alcohol-specific conditions were listed. This is because the research on which the attributable fractions are based does not cover under 16s. Alcohol-specific conditions are those that are wholly attributed to alcoholthat is, those with an attributable fraction of one. They are: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (142.6) Alcoholic gastritis (K29.2) Alcoholic myopathy (G72.1) Alcoholic polyneuropathy (G62.1) Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing's syndrome (E24.4) Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol (G31.2) Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol (F10) Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol (X45) Ethanol poisoning (T51.0) Methanol poisoning (T51.1) Toxic effect of alcohol, unspecified (T51.9) Number of episodes in which the patient had an alcohol-related primary or secondary diagnosis These figures represent the number of episodes where an alcohol-related diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a hospital episode statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once in each count, even if an alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.  Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 
			  Primary diagnosis: The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.  Secondary diagnosis: As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 19 (13 from 2002-03 to 2007-08 and six prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.  Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Assignment of episodes to years: Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Anchor Trust: Finance

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much funding from the NHS has been provided to the Anchor Trust in  (a) England,  (b) the North of England,  (c) Cumbria and  (d) Copeland constituency in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how much the NHS has allocated to the Anchor Trust for the provision of elderly care and nursing care services in Copeland constituency; and over what period.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally.

Arthritis

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis was in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: Information on the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is not collected centrally.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has estimated an annual incidence rate of approximately 1.5 men and 3.6 women per 10,000 of the United Kingdom population.

Blood: Donors

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 199W, on blood: donation, for what reasons the units were not transfused.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows total red cell units issued to hospitals in England and North Wales reporting data to the Blood Stocks Management scheme which were not transfused; the percentage of units issued which were not transfused; and a breakdown of the reasons the units were not transfused in each year since 2005-06:
	
		
			  Financial Year  Red cells issued and not transfused  Total percentage red cells issued and not transfused( 1)  Reason not transfused( 2)  Percentage breakdown by reason of units issued and not transfused 
			 2005-06 35,917 2.56 Time Expired 73.8 
			OTCOL 18.4 
			MISC 5.6 
			FF 2.2 
			 2006-07 31,620 2.24 Time Expired 70.2 
			OTCOL 21.3 
			MISC 7.1 
			FF 1.4 
			 2007-08 30,188 2.21 Time Expired 70.2 
			OTCOL 21.8 
			MISC 5.9 
			FF 2.1 
			 (1 )Figures given to one decimal place in answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 199W. (2) Wastage reasons: OTCOL-out of temperature control outside laboratory (unit failed thirty minute rule). FF-fridge failure (physical failure of blood bank). MISC-Miscellaneous (any other reason not covered by the other three reasons). 
		
	
	The figures given for the percentage of red cell units issued and not transfused for each financial year correct the information in the written answer given to the hon. Member on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 199W.

Blood: Donors

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the decision to stop supplying  (a) human serum and  (b) blood for non-clinical purposes was made by NHS Blood and Transplant; what consultation was undertaken before the decision; how much blood has been used for non-clinical purposes in each of the last 10 years; and what those purposes were.

Dawn Primarolo: No decision to stop supplying human serum or blood for non-clinical purposes has been made by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).
	The provision of blood for clinical purposes always takes precedence over non-clinical issues. Blood is supplied for non-clinical use according to strict protocols. Wherever possible, blood which is not suitable for therapeutic use for patients is used for this purpose. However, where this is not possible consent is sought from donors.
	The following series of tables shows blood issued by NHS Blood and Transplant for non-clinical purposes such as quality assurance; quality control; development; validation; and ethically approved research in each financial year since 2004-05. Information is not available for a complete financial year prior to 2004-05.
	
		
			  Non clinical issue product  Quantity (units) 
			  Financial year 2004-05  
			 Buffy coat residue 669 
			 Buffy coats 4,818 
			 Clinical Spec Research Plasma 32 
			 Clinical Spec Research Red Cells 15 
			 Clinical Spec Research Whole Blood 84 
			 Research plasmasterile 250 1,180 
			 Research platelets 12 
			 Research red cells 184 
			 Research whole blood 530 
			 Serum 346 
			 Serum group AB 452 
			 Serumnon AB 1,017 
			 Time Expired Apheresis Platelets internal use only 12 
			 Time expired Neonatal platelets 8 
			 Time Expired Platelets 20 
			   
			  Financial year 2005-06  
			 Buffy Coat Residue 2,286 
			 Buffy coats 4,615 
			 Clinical Spec Research Plasma 5 
			 Clinical Spec Research Red Cells 15 
			 Clinical Spec Research Whole Blood 166 
			 Leukocyte Filters 179 
			 Research Cryo Depleted Plasma 3 
			 Research Plasmasterile 250 1,310 
			 Research platelets 22 
			 Research red cells 162 
			 Research whole blood 638 
			 Serum group AB 261 
			 Serumnon AB 1,508 
			 Serumnon AB (OPC) 239 
			 Time Expired Apheresis Platelets (internal use only) 14 
			 Time expired platelets 19 
			 Time expired red cells 22 
			 Whole BloodFilter residue 2,564 
			   
			  Financial year 2006-07  
			 Buffy Coat Residue 801 
			 Buffy coats 4,614 
			 Clinical Spec Research Plasma 4 
			 Clinical Spec Research Red Cells 22 
			 Clinical Spec Research Whole Blood 194 
			 Cryoprecipitateinternal use only 7 
			 Leukocyte Filters 74 
			 Research Cryo Depleted Plasma 12 
			 Research plasmasterile 250 1,271 
			 Research platelets 17 
			 Research red cells 176 
			 Research whole blood 676 
			 Serum 97 
			 Serum group AB 405 
			 Serumnon AB 1,295 
			 Time Expired Apheresis Platelets (internal use only) 24 
			 Time Expired Platelets 86 
			 Time Expired red cells 7 
			   
			  Financial year 2007-08  
			 Buffy Coat Residue 919 
			 Buffy coats 4,895 
			 Clinical Spec Research Plasma 3 
			 Clinical Spec Research Platelets 4 
			 Clinical Spec Research Red Cells 15 
			 Clinical Spec Research Whole Blood 241 
			 Leukocyte Filters 58 
			 Research Cryo Depleted Plasma 1 
			 Research Plasmasterile 250 1,447 
			 Research platelets 36 
			 Research plateletsmarginal cost 13 
			 Research red cells 104 
			 Research whole blood 906 
			 Serum 277 
			 Serum group AB 316 
			 Serumnon AB 1,245 
			 Time Expired Apheresis Platelets (internal use only) 1 
			 Time expired platelets 77 
			 Time expired red cells 57 
			 Whole Blood filter residue 21 
			   
			  Financial year 2008-09 (up to 28 February 2009)  
			 Buffy Coat Residue 693 
			 Buffy coats 4,710 
			 Clinical Spec Research Plasma 6 
			 Clinical Spec Research Red Cells 16 
			 Clinical Spec Research Whole Blood 213 
			 Internal onlyCRYO 1 
			 Internal onlyPlatelets 30 
			 Leukocyte Filters 246 
			 Research Cryo Depleted Plasma 1 
			 Research plasmasterile 250 1,226 
			 Research platelets 1 
			 Research red cells 99 
			 Research whole blood 766 
			 Serum group AB 163 
			 Serumnon AB 708 
			 Serumnon AB1001 128 
			 Time Expired Platelets 95 
			 Time expired red cells 66 
			 Whole Blood filter residue 30

Care Homes: Closures

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances private nursing and elderly care home providers are able to withdraw services provided under contract by them for elderly people.

Phil Hope: The circumstances under which a contract can be terminated will depend on the terms and conditions in the contract. The detail of contracting arrangements between local authorities and independent sector providers of care is a matter for local decision. We think it is important that local authorities are able to tailor contracts as necessary to specific local circumstances.
	Each local authority should have contingency plans, drawn up in consultation with service providers, for dealing with situations where residents, whose care it arranged, need to move. Each local authority is responsibility for protecting the welfare of people for whom it arranges care.

Care Homes: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure that money given by the NHS to the Anchor Trust in Copeland is used in Copeland for the purposes for which it was provided.

Phil Hope: It is for primary care trusts to decide their priorities for investment locally taking into account both local priorities and the national health service operating framework.

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the contribution of the hon. Member for Bury South on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 52WH, when the Government plan to provide care home self-funders with access to an independent element in the complaints process.

Phil Hope: The Health Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provisions to extend the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to allow service users who purchase their own adult social care services to have their complaint investigated by the Ombudsman. Subject to the passage of legislation, it is intended that the new scheme should be implemented in 2010.

Care Homes: Manpower

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the points-based immigration system on the supply and cost of labour in the  (a) care home and  (b) home care sectors; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the effect of the introduction of the points-based immigration system on the supply and cost of labour in the  (a) care home and  (b) home care sectors; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Following the Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) recommendations announced in September 2008 the Department has been working closely with the Home Office and MAC to review the evidence in the care home and home care sectors.

Care Homes: Standards

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistical tools his Department uses to model  (a) the quality of life and  (b) life expectancy of elderly nursing home residents in the event of the displacement of these residents.

Phil Hope: The Department does not model the quality of life or the life expectancy of residents in care homes in the event of their displacement from a care home.
	All care homes are regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards to ensure residents receive good quality and safe care. CSCI does not separately consider the quality of life and life expectancy of people who have changed care homes.

Care Homes: Standards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 416W, on care homes: standards, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the review of the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.

Phil Hope: The review of the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care is ongoing. The revised Framework and support tools will be published later this year.

Chlamydia

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much on average it has cost the NHS to perform a Chlamydia test in  (a) genito-urinary medicine clinics,  (b) GP surgeries and  (c) pharmacies in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the costs to the national health service of Chlamydia testing in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, general practitioner (GP) surgeries and pharmacies is not available centrally.
	In GUM, Chlamydia testing is routinely undertaken as part of a broader sexual health screen. In 2009-10, GUM clinics will attract the national tariff payment of 139 for each first attendance and 86 of 119 for any follow up attendance depending on the clinical complexity.
	For Chlamydia screening within the National Chlamydia Screening programme (NCSP), in an article Modelling the healthcare costs of an opportunistic chlamydia screening programme published in the Sexually Transmitted Infection Journal on 1 April 2004, average estimates costs based on the pilot screening model in general practices and contraceptive and sexual health services are as follows:
	for those screened and not infected (the majority of those screened): 18-25;
	for those screened and infected (includes costs of treatment and initiation of partner notification): 34-42; and
	for partner treatment: 24-30.
	A copy of the article has been placed in the Library.
	In a further article, The health care and patient costs of an proactive Chlamydia screening programme: the Chlamydia Screening Studies (ClaSS) project, published in the  British Medical Journal online, 17 January 2007 came up with similar costings. A copy of the publication has been placed in the Library.
	The NCSP is currently reviewing costing of Chlamydia screening in the community and developing appropriate tariffs, in collaboration with the contraceptive and integrated sexual health services tariff development group.
	Different variations of Chlamydia screening pathways are being costed: in Contraceptive and Integrated Sexual Health Services, in general practices, in pharmacies, mail outs and postal Chlamydia screening kit. This review will be completed later this year.

Clinical Trials: EU Law

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment of the impact of the EU Clinical Trials Directive on medical research activity in England; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 transpose the provisions of the EU Clinical Trials Directive into United Kingdom law. UK stakeholders were widely consulted before implementation and continue to provide feedback.
	The pharmaceutical industry has consistently confirmed that it is content with the broad thrust of the Directive, and that it reinforces systems and practices to which it already conforms. In collaboration with partners in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, including research charities, the Medical Research Council and universities, the government is in dialogue with the research community about further opportunities to reduce the burden of regulation, taking account of risk. Departmental officials have arranged a workshop on dismantling barriers to clinical research for 30 April 2009.
	The challenges to medical research arise only in part from the implementation of the Directive. In 2006, the Government published a comprehensive health research strategy Best Research for Best Health setting out a range of measures to transform the health research environment. These measures have begun to take effect. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library.
	A UK-wide regulatory and governance advice service now gives researchers free access to expert advice regulation. Research ethics committees are now organised in a national research ethics service which facilitates and promotes ethical research by maintain a consistent UK-wide system of ethical review. An integrated research application system now offers a single point from which to apply for permissions and approvals for health and care research in the UK, enabling researchers to enter the information about their project once instead of duplicating information in separate application forms. The National Institute for Health Research coordinated system for gaining National Health Service permission will standardise and streamline the process for gaining NHS permission in England. These measures are reducing approval times and bureaucracy
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency publishes information monthly and in its annual report on the number of applications for clinical trials of medicines in the UK. The data show that the total numbers of clinical trials in the UK have remained stable since the implementation of the Directive. There are 3,000 trials currently active in the UK of which some 25 per cent. are from non-commercial sponsors, the highest figure in the European Union.
	Representatives of many UK stakeholders contributed to a European Commission conference in October 2007 on the operation of the clinical trials directive and perspectives for the future. The conference identified the perceived benefits and difficulties and made a number of recommendations for change. The Commission has since announced it will make an assessment of the application of the Directive with a view to making legislative proposals by 2010.

Dementia: Sight Impaired

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people with dementia who have an undetected visual problem;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people with dementia and serious sight loss.

Phil Hope: The Department does not have information on the number of people with dementia who have an undetected visual problem or serious sight loss.

Dental Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the funding allocation for dentistry is in each primary care trust area in each of the next two years.

Ann Keen: This information is not yet available.

Dental Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Information Centre plans to publish information on the number of patients seen by dentists in each primary care trust area; when the information was first scheduled for publication; what the reasons are for the time taken to publish these data; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The latest figures published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care on the number of patients seen by a national health service dentist in each primary care trust (PCT) were released on 26 February 2009. These were included within the 'NHS Dental Statistics for England, Quarter 2: 30 September 2008' report.
	Patients seen information by PCT is available in Table Dl of Annex 3 of the above report. The latest period that they contained data for was the 24-month period ending 30 September 2008.
	This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0809q2
	Patients seen information is published quarterly. The NHS Information Centre expects to publish the next patients seen information on 21 May 2009. This publication will contain information on patients seen by an NHS dentist in the 24-month period ending 31 December 2008.
	Sub-national information on patients seen was not published on 21 August 2008 as part of the end of year 'NHS Dental Statistics for England 2007/08' report due to concerns over the allocation of patients to PCTs across the various quarters. These concerns were examined by the NHS Information Centre in consultation with the NHS Dental Services of the NHS Business Services Authority and were addressed by the inclusion of additional technical information to enhance interpretation of the patient seen measure in the 'NHS Dental Statistics for England, Quarter 1: 30 June 2008' report, published on 27 November 2008. This report contained sub-national information on the numbers of patients seen for the 24-month period ending 30 June 2008 as usual, and also included the information for the 24-month period 31 March 2008, originally omitted from the 2007-08 end of year report.
	This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0809ql

Dental Services: Registration

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria he takes into account in determining approval for the registration  (a) fees and  (b) requirements for dental care professionals proposed by the General Dental Council.

Ann Keen: The General Dental Council (GDC) is responsible for setting its fees. The Department has no role in approving either fees or related registration requirements for dental care professionals proposed by the GDC.

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department operates in two buildings that are under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement but is not the major occupier in either building. The Department operates in these buildings under a Memorandum of Terms of Occupation (MOTO) with the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs.
	A wider list of non-centrally procured schemes is at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pfi_signed_projects_list.xls

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely effect of setting levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive on the number of independent health food retailers in the UK; and what recent representations he has received from  (a) right hon. and hon. Members and  (b) others about the effects of this legislation on UK businesses and consumers.

Dawn Primarolo: No specific levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements have yet been proposed by the European Commission or discussed in Commission working group meetings with member states. In the absence of specific levels, it is not possible to assess the effect on independent health food retailers in the United Kingdom.
	We have received representations from right hon. and hon. Members, the food supplements industry and consumers about the effects of setting levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements, in the form of correspondence and in meetings.
	The Government continue to work with the food supplements industry in exploring approaches to assess the impact of levels, when they are proposed, on UK businesses and consumer choice and to ensure that any impact on small and medium enterprises is considered fully.

Doctors: Disciplinary Proceedings

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS doctors are suspended; and for how long each has been suspended.

Ann Keen: Information relating to the number of doctors who are currently suspended, and for how long, is not collected centrally.

Ex-servicemen: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the Government has spent on alcohol and drug addiction treatment for service veterans in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what recent assessment has been made of the level of demand for drug and alcohol addiction treatment for service veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for determining their local health needs and priorities, including those for service veterans, and providing services to meet these needs and priorities and are free to decide how much to spend on alcohol and drug services.
	The cost of alcohol treatment, including that for addiction, is met through national health service mainstream expenditure in line with local needs and priorities and is not collected centrally.
	Since 2001, the Department and the Home Office have provided specific resources for drug treatment in the form of the pooled drug treatment budget (PTB). This funding is allocated to the 149 drug action teams across the country to use, along with local mainstream funding, to provide for treatment and services according to the specific needs of each locality. 406 million has been made available by the Government in 2009-10 specifically for drug treatment through the PTB.
	The Operating Framework for the NHS requires PCTs and providers, when commissioning services, to take account of military personnel, their families and veterans in their area. It asks PCTs to assure themselves that their services do not disadvantage these groups in terms of their ability to access timely health care or dental services.

Folic Acid

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence relating to folic acid and cancer risk his Department has published in 2009; and when he expects the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to publish its final advice on folic acid and cancer risk.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not recently published any new evidence relating to folic acid and cancer risk. An Expert Group comprising members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), members of the Committee on Carcinogenicity and other invited experts, are currently considering new evidence on temporal trends in colo-rectal cancer incidence in the United States and Canada. Mandatory folic acid fortification was introduced in these countries in 1998. The expert group is currently awaiting results of relevant recently completed and ongoing trials and any further recommendations made by SACN will be considered by UK Health Departments.

General Practitioners: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices received the initial incentive payment  (a) component one and  (b) component two in 2006-07.

Ben Bradshaw: Practice-based commissioning (PBC) incentive schemes are administered locally by primary care trusts. The Department did not routinely monitor receipt by general practitioner (GP) practices of component one or component two of the 2006-07 PBC Directed Enhanced Service scheme.
	Data from strategic health authorities show that 8,067 GP practices received an incentive scheme payment in 2006-07. This figure does not discriminate between payments under component one of the nationally negotiated PBC Direct Enhanced Service scheme or a locally agreed alternative that may have been offered. No data have been collected centrally relating to component two payments.

Health Services: Developing Countries

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendation in Lord Crisp's report on global health partnerships in respect of creating healthcare links between the UK and developing countries; and what projects have been established as a result.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government gave their response to Lord Crisp's report in March 2008. Since then the Department has been working with the Department for International Development to implement several recommendations from the Crisp report. This includes:
	an independent evaluation of healthcare links between the United Kingdom and developing countries, completed in May 2008;
	a Links Centre to help signpost, advise and develop healthcare links, operational from May 2009;
	a Funding scheme that will provide some 1.25 million per year over three years, also operating from May 2009; and
	a Department of Health Framework for International Development. This will provide greater clarity on how individuals, NHS and allied agencies can best maximise their potential through healthcare links with developing countries. We are holding a series of consultation events over the summer for publication in October 2009.

Health Services: Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of primary mental healthcare services in  (a) male local,  (b) male training and  (c) female prisons.

Phil Hope: Since 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) have commissioned both primary and secondary mental health services in public sector prisons. The provision is based on the health needs of the population served by an individual PCT, based on a health needs assessment, and which should be reviewed annually.
	Offender Health, led by the Department, commissioned performance indicators for prison health in 2007. These standards, Prison Health Performance Indicators, provide reports based on current prison health services, measured against standards used in the wider national health service to promote equivalence of services in custody. These standards were reviewed in 2008 with a strengthening of areas including mental health, and new indicators, Prison Health Performance and Quality Indicators, were sent to PCTs for completion in March 2009.
	Prison Service Instruction 50/2007 covers the arrangements by which prisoners needing treatment in a secure NHS setting under Sections 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act 2007 should be transferred from prisons to the NHS.
	To support staff in dealing with prisoners with complex mental health problems, 600,000 has been available over three years to the nine regions across England to provide mental health awareness training for prison officers and staff. This funding is available for 2009-10, and will continue to provide staff with training and the skills to better understand and support prisoners with mental health problems in custody.
	The standard of services provided in custody is monitored by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP). HMIP undertakes announced and unannounced visits, and reports are written after all visits which are based on the standards identified in the HMIP document ExpectationsCriteria for assessing the conditions in prisons and the treatment of prisoners.
	PCTs have a commissioning responsibility for prison health care and are monitored on their commissioning capability by the Healthcare Commission. The HMIP and Healthcare Commission work in collaboration, which is clearly stated in the Expectations document.

Health Services: Waiting Lists

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for planned treatment in the NHS was in each region in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The in-patient mean and median waiting times by region since 1997-98 are shown in the document median and mean waiting times by region, which has been placed in the Library.

Hepatitis: Blood Transfusions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to establish a public inquiry into the transmission of hepatitis C and HIV through blood and blood products; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have great sympathy for those affected in this way, and are deeply sorry that this happened as a result of national health service treatment that was given in good faith. However, these events have been the subject of long-concluded legal proceedings, and the Government have established three schemes to provide financial assistance to those affected.
	Lord Archer of Sandwell has recently issued the report of his independent inquiry into these issues. I have met with Lord Archer to discuss his report, and will consider his conclusions and recommendations very carefully.

Hospitals: Camden

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what spending reductions NHS London are seeking from hospitals providing services to people in Camden; and what the proposed timetable for implementation of those reductions is.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trust (PCT) allocations for 2009 to 2010 and 2010 to 2011 were announced on 8 December. It is for the national health service to decide locally how best to meet the national priorities set out in the 'NHS Operating Framework' including how much funding to make available. It is for PCTs to commission the services they require to meet the health care needs of the local populations and patients they serve taking into account both local and national priorities.
	However, the boards of all 31 PCTs in London have agreed in principle to support NHS London's medium term financial strategy, to address long term deficits within some NHS organisations in London. All PCTs, with the exception of those repaying historical deficits, will be contributing on average 0.8 per cent. of their resource baseline in 2009-10 and 0.75 per cent. in 2010-11 as part of the plan.
	This is in line with the 2009-10 Operating Framework which states that strategic health authorities (SHAs) may determine and agree arrangements locally with their PCTs for the transfer and lodging of resources with the SHA, provided this is within the overall limits of the SHA planned surplus. SHAs will be accountable for the management of this flexibility. The right hon. Member may therefore wish to raise this directly with London Strategic Health Authority.
	London NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts will not be contributing any of their income towards NHS London's medium term financial plan.

Learning Disability: Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities he expects to meet the deadline for the transfer of learning disability commissioning funds from primary care trusts (PCTs) to local authorities; and what procedures will apply when a local authority claims it has received a reduction in funding relative to the PCT budget.

Phil Hope: Returns have been received from over 70 per cent. of local authorities who either have agreed a figure for the amounts of learning disability social care funding to be transferred from the national health service to local authorities (LAs), for 2009-10 and 2010-11, or they are near that process. Returns are expected from everyone by 31 March.
	The return requires the local authority and the primary care trust (PCT) to be in agreement so where there are disagreements then this will be highlighted by the return.
	The guidance Valuing People Now: Transfer of the Responsibility for the Commissioning of Social Care for Adults with a Learning Disability from the NHS to Local Government and Transfer of the Appropriate Funding says that PCTs and LAs should come to a view on exactly what sums of money will be transferred to the LA alongside the responsibility for commissioning future services. Where there are issues of concern officials will follow this up with regional colleagues.

Medical Records: Databases

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) records and  (b) data fields there are in (i) the Population Demographics Service, (ii) the Summary Care Record, (iii) the Secondary Uses Service, (iv) the Electronic Prescription Service, (v) the Out of Hours system, (vi) the Picture Archiving and Communications system, (vii) the Radiology Information System, (viii) Choose and Book, (ix) the Detailed Care Record system and (x) the National Childhood Obesity Database.

Ben Bradshaw: Comprehensive information on numbers of records is not available. Out of hours, radiology, and most detailed care records systems, are procured and managed locally by primary care trusts and national health Service trusts. Information is not collected centrally on the number of records these systems hold, or on the number of detailed care records held in data centres operated in connection with the national programme for information technology.
	In addition, while national activity data are collected and published on an annual basis about imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations and tests, it is not possible to differentiate historic data in terms of those that were stored using picture archiving and communications systems.
	For other systems, information as at 13 March 2009, is in the following table.
	
		
			  System/Service  Records/data items 
			 Personal Demographics Service A record for every patient treated by the NHS in England - approximately 70 million records 
			 Summary Care Records 249,000 records 
			 Secondary Uses Service 1.3 billion coded data summaries 
			 Electronic Prescriptions Service 178 million prescription messages 
			 Choose and Book 14.4 million bookings 
			 National Childhood Obesity Database 2.388 million records 
		
	
	Information on data fields could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Systems involve the use of application software, and in some cases multiple applications, each with its own data model containing potentially thousands of data fields. There is no database function that will count the number of data fields in a database, and to do so would involve a manual process that could take many hours in each case.

NHS: Bank Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for cancer care of the collapse of Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander.

Ann Keen: In general, the large majority of cash balances held by national health service organisations will be in Government Bank accounts with HM Office of the Paymaster General, which all NHS organisations must hold.
	Funding for health services is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. It is therefore for PCTs in partnership with strategic health authorities to commission their health services, including cancer services.

NHS: Disciplinary Proceedings

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS employees of each  (a) grade and  (b) length of service have been suspended in the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of national health service employees who have been suspended is not collected centrally.

NHS: ICT

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 203-4W, on departmental ICT, on what occasions the exemption referred to has been applied in the NHS IT programme.

Ben Bradshaw: The exemption referred to has been relied upon in relation to extensions to the choose and book contract, 'spine' contract, and the current contracts with the programme's local service providers, BT and CSC. The Department has taken appropriate legal advice in all cases.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) initial budget and  (b) outturn was in respect of (i) revenue and (ii) capital expenditure for (A) the national programme for IT and (B) each element of the national programme for IT in each year since the inception of the programme; and how much (1) capital and (2) revenue funding has been allocated for each remaining year of the programme.

Ben Bradshaw: Comprehensive information in the form requested is not available. This is because the overall cost of the national programme for information technology (NPfTT) includes both central costs, and the costs managed by local national health service bodies incurred in implementing the systems, for example in training staff and upgrading computer hardware. Local information is not routinely collected in a way that differentiates expenditure on the information technology (IT) programme from other local IT-related expenditure.
	Within the Department, NHS Connecting for Health, which came into being in April 2005, is responsible both for central expenditure necessary for ensuring delivery of the IT systems under the national programme, and for maintaining the critical business systems previously provided to the national health service by the former NHS Information Authority. NHS Connecting for Health does not prepare annual whole-programme budgets for NPfTT activity separate from those for its wider responsibilities as this would involve the unnecessary apportionment of common management, administrative and support costs.
	For the same reason, separate outturn figures are not routinely reported for management information purposes.
	Information covering all NHS Connecting for Health's responsibilities is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   million 
			   Initial budget  Planned expenditure 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Capital 1,198 1,055 915 917.0 800.0 
			 Revenue 799 638 607 631.3 605.7 
		
	
	
		
			   million 
			   Actual expenditure  Forecast outturn 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Capital 360.0 429.0 589.0 686.0 586.0 
			 Revenue 260.0 539.0 528.0 507.0 616.0 
			  Notes: 1. All sums exclude capital charges. 2. The amounts include the original costs of NPflT contracts, which have not changed, but also include new and additional requirements that have been added, supported by separate business cases and funding, as reported by the National Audit Office. 3. Planned expenditure figures for years beyond 2009-10 are subject to revision in light of the evolving IT needs of the NHS and to the outcome of future spending reviews.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received on the extent to which contracts under the NHS IT programme may bind subsequent administrations.

Ben Bradshaw: National programme for information technology contracts are signed in the name of the Secretary of State for Health, and their terms will therefore be binding for the lifetime of the contract on the holder of that position, irrespective of the administration in office. It would be open to a new administration to consider the acceptability of any contract. Should changes be required there may be an opportunity to amend the contract depending on the scope and type of these changes. Voluntary termination clauses may be used to terminate a contract under the terms set out.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reach a settlement with Fujitsu over its withdrawal from the NHS IT programme.

Ben Bradshaw: Fujitsu did not withdraw from the national programme for information technology. The contract with Fujitsu was terminated by the Department on 28 May 2008 because of failure to meet key contractual milestones and to provide an acceptable remediation plan.
	The formal dispute process is continuing. It is not possible at this time to estimate when these matters will be resolved.

NHS: Manpower

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were working in  (a) patient-facing and  (b) non patient-facing roles in the NHS on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The following table gives the total number of people employed in the national health service in patient facing services.
	
		
			  2008 
			   Number 
			 Total 1,149,276 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff (excl retainers) 701,324 
			 All doctors 133,662 
			 All doctors (excl retainers)(1) 133,155 
			 Consultants (including Directors of public health) 34,910 
			 Registrars 35,042 
			 Other doctors in training 14,136 
			 Hospital practitioners and clinical assistants (non-dental specialties)(2) 2,761 
			 Other medical and dental staff 11,854 
			 GPs (excl retainers)(3) 37,213 
			 GPs excluding retainers and registrars 34,010 
			 GP Providers 27,347 
			 Other GPs 6,663 
			 GP registrars(4) 3,203 
			 GP retainers 507 
			 Total qualified nursing staff(5) 408,160 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 386,112 
			 GP practice nurses(3, 6) 22,048 
			 Total qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff(7) 142,558 
			 Qualified Allied Health Professions 71,301 
			 Other qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 71,257 
			 Qualified ambulance staff(8) 17,451 
			   
			  Support to clinical staff 355,010 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 286,254 
			 Support to scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 55,689 
			 Support to ambulance staff 13,067 
			 Other GP practice staff(3) 92,436 
		
	
	The following table gives the total number of people employed by the national health service in non-patient facing roles.
	
		
			  2008 
			   Number 
			 Total 219,417 
			 Total NHS infrastructure support 219,064 
			 Central functions 105,354 
			 Hotel, property and estates 73,797 
			 Manager and senior manager 39,913 
			  Other non-medical staff or those with unknown classification 353 
			 (1) All doctors excluding GP retainers. (2) In order to avoid double counting these staff are excluded from the all doctors totals, as they are predominantly GPs that work part time in hospitals (applies to headcount data only). (3) GP Data as at 1 October 1998-99 and 30 September 2000-08. (4) GP Registrar count for 2008 represents an improvement in data collection processes and comparisons with previous years should be treated with caution. (5) Nursing and midwifery figures exclude students on training courses leading to a first qualification as a nurse or midwife. (6) Headcount practice nurse figures are estimated for 1998 and 1999 based on the 1997 fte to headcount ratio. (7) To make the census data comparable with the review body for nursing staff and other health professionals definitions, qualified Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) now include speech and language therapists (previously these were included in other qualified ST and T staff). For comparability historical data have been reassigned to match the revised definition. The numbers of AHPs will not match those published in previous years. (8) In 2006 ambulance staff were collected under new, more detailed, occupation codes. As a result, qualified totals and support to ambulance staff totals are not directly comparable with previous years.

NHS: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses worked in accident and emergency departments in England in each year since 1997; and how many such staff worked in each NHS organisation in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The number of qualified nurses working in accident and emergency departments in England are not identified separately in the NHS Workforce Census. A table giving the numbers of all Hospital and Community Health Service medical staff within the accident and emergency speciality group, has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Measurement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to ensure the accuracy of weighing scales in the NHS.

Ann Keen: Responsibility for maintenance, calibration and replacement of weighing equipment, along with the provision of suitable and sufficient training in the correct use of the equipment is the responsibility of each national health service organisation.
	In autumn 2007, the Department's Estates and Facilities Division published an article in Quarterly Briefinga magazine produced by the Department aimed at local health care estates managersraising awareness of a survey being undertaken by local authorities coordinators of regulatory services (LACORS) on weigh scales in acute healthcare premises.
	In May 2008, the Department issued an Estates and Facilities Safety Alert to NHS chief executives and board members with responsibility for health and safety in England, to further raise awareness of the LACORS survey and the potential for medication errors to occur through the use of uncalibrated weigh scales.
	The guidance in the Alert advised the NHS that where dual readings are possible (i.e. imperial and metric), all readings should be taken in metric to avoid confusion.
	Additional advice has since been drafted jointly by the Department and the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) for the NHS, following the publication of an interim report by LACORS, and is due to be published by the NPSA in the near future.

NHS: Pensions

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of NHS employees and former employees who will have their NHS occupational pension entitlement amended in the next 12 months and  (b) the greatest reduction in entitlement which will be made for such a person; and what proportion of such adjustments he expects will have been determined by the commencement of the 2009-10 tax year.

Ann Keen: For active members of the NHS Pension Scheme, their pension on retirement is based on their final salary at retirement and their accrued pensionable service. Service cannot be reduced. For deferred members of the NHS Pension Scheme (former employees), who have not yet taken their pension, their pension entitlement is based on their final salary linked to the retail prices index and pensionable service at the time of leaving. Their pension entitlements will not reduce. For NHS pensioners, latest figures are that 54,079 have been told their pensions will be adjusted in April as a result of the double payment of the uplift of the guaranteed minimum pension element of the NHS pension. Of these the greatest reduction in pension is 3,070.34, a reduction of 9 per cent., and we expect around 91 per cent. of adjustments to have been determined by the start of the 2009-10 tax year. Of the remaining cases requiring adjustment we do not expect all to result in a reduction in pension.

NHS: Temporary Employment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the cost to NHS organisations of the change in treatment of value added tax for agency staff; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The latest estimate of the potential cost to the national health service is 26 million per year, revised from an earlier estimate of 30 million when VAT stood at 17.5 per cent.

Patient Advice and Liaison Services: Manpower

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in the patient advice and liaison services of each NHS  (a) hospital trust and  (b) foundation hospital trust.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Pregnancy: Dietary Supplements

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on vitamin D supplements for  (a) children aged between six months and four years and  (b) pregnant and breastfeeding women in 2008-09.

Dawn Primarolo: Vitamin supplements, which include vitamin D, are provided free to Healthy Start beneficiaries. In the first three quarters of 2008-09 the cost of supplements provided through the scheme was in the region of 20,000. Data for the final quarter are not yet available. Vitamins can also be prescribed by general practitioners, and national health service prescriptions are free for pregnant women, new mothers and all children. Data as to the numbers and cost of supplements containing vitamin D prescribed in this way are not collected centrally.

Pregnancy: Dietary Supplements

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the cost of providing vitamin D supplements to all  (a) pregnant and breastfeeding women and  (b) young children between the ages of six months and four years.

Dawn Primarolo: Vitamin supplements containing vitamin D are available to beneficiaries of the Healthy Start Scheme. We have estimated that the annual cost of providing these vitamins universally across England would be as follows: 24 million for children from age six months until the fourth birthday and 4 million for women from 10 weeks of pregnancy until baby is one-year-old.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether rheumatoid arthritis is considered to be a long-term condition for the purposes of the review of prescription charges led by Sir Ian Gilmore; and if he will take steps to exempt patients diagnosed with that condition from prescription charges;
	(2)  whether systemic lupus erythematosus is considered to be a long-term condition for the purposes of the review of prescription charges led by Sir Ian Gilmore; and if he will take steps to exempt patients diagnosed with that condition from prescription charges.

Dawn Primarolo: We have asked the president of the Royal College of Physicians (Professor Ian Gilmore) to carry out a review that will consider how to implement the commitment to exempt patients with long-term conditions from prescription charges. The review is in progress and is due to make its recommendations to departmental Ministers in summer 2009. The review is engaging widely with stakeholders to seek the views of patients, the public, patient representative bodies, clinicians and health care organisations.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were  (a) exempt from and  (b) unable to pay prescription charges in the last five years;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who were  (a) exempt from and  (b) unable to pay prescription charges in the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not hold the information to answer these questions. Data are not held on the number of people with a particular medical condition, prescribed or dispensed a particular medication or the purpose for which the medication was prescribed.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of people with cancer who will be exempted from prescription charges from April 2009 and  (b) the cost to the NHS of exempting cancer patients from prescription charges in the 12-month period from April 2009.

Dawn Primarolo: Up to 150,000 patients already diagnosed with cancer are expected to benefit from exemption from prescription charges. The expected reduction in prescription charge income as a result of the exemption for cancer patients is estimated to be around 15 million per year.

Pressure Sores

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many recorded cases of pressure sores there were in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who received treatment for  (a) pressure sores and  (b) infected pressure sores which developed during a hospital stay in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally and no estimate has been made.

Respite Care: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 237W, on respite care, what percentage of the 150 million each primary care trust will receive, according to the weighted capitation formula.

Phil Hope: The 150 million is part of overall primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations. The 2008-09 PCT allocations represent a 74.2 billion investment in the national health service, which is increasing by a further 8.6 billion over 2009-10 and 2010-11. These overall allocations are not broken down into funding for individual policies by PCT. There is not a weighted capitation formula specific to respite care that would allow needs to be accurately identified at the local level. Rather it is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally, taking into account both local priorities and the NHS operating framework.

Sight Impaired: North West

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many blind people there are in the constituencies of  (a) Pendle,  (b) Burnley,  (c) Ribble Valley,  (d) Blackburn,  (e) Hyndburn and  (g) Rossendale and Darwen.

Phil Hope: Data on the number of blind people are not collected centrally by constituency, but are available for councils with adult social services responsibilities and government office regions. The register is voluntary and so cannot be thought of as providing a definitive measure.
	The constituencies of Pendle, Burnley, Ribble Valley, Hyndburn and Rossendale all fall within the boundaries of Lancashire county council. The other two constituencies requested, Blackburn and Darwen, fall within the boundaries of Blackburn with Darwen borough council.
	The number of people registered as blind, as at 31 March 2008, was 3,540 in Lancashire county council and 530 in Blackburn in Darwen borough council.

Surgery: Overseas Residence

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas residents who have received transplants since 1997 were NHS entitled patients.

Ann Keen: Secretary of State Directions on the allocation of organs from deceased donors place patients into two categoriesGroup 1 and Group 2. A person in Group 2 cannot receive an organ if there is a clinically suitable person in Group 1. Group 1 includes persons ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom who qualify for national health service treatment under the NHS Act and must be treated the same as UK nationals resident in the in the UK, persons entitled under reciprocal health agreements to medical treatment in the UK, and persons entitled under bilateral reciprocal health agreements. Over the period April 1998 to March 2008, 315 people recorded as resident outside the UK (excluding the Republic of Ireland) and categorised as in Group 1 had transplants, 301 from deceased donors and 14 from living donors.

Thalidomide: Health Services

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts in England are able to measure the blood pressure of a four limb deficient individual experiencing the negative health effects of thalidomide use.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 30 March 2009
	This information is not collected.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Special Envoy to the Middle East

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the performance of the Quartet's Special Envoy to the Middle East.

Bill Rammell: While we have not received formal representations, we judge that the Quartet Representative and his office continue to make a very valuable contribution to improving the situation on the ground and to helping to realise our common vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace, prosperity and security side by side.

G20

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the cost of hosting the G20 London summit.

Caroline Flint: The total costs for hosting the London summit are currently estimated at 21 million which includes 7.2 million for policing.
	This figure is 2 million greater than the figure given in the answers of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1002W, and 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1186-87W. The increase is due to an additional 1.75 million for changes in the build design of the venue, and 250,000 for tented immigration at airports to allow delegations through border control quickly. These amounts were not included in the previous estimate.
	Standard public sector procurement procedures have been followed in arranging the event to ensure value for money and the costs will be found within existing departmental and police budgets.

G20

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the agenda for the forthcoming G20 summit.

Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met counterparts at the Informal and Spring European Councils on 1 and 20 March 2009, and at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 22 March 2009. Separately, he spoke with his Polish colleague Radoslav Sikorksi and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. I have also discussed the summit with my EU counterparts in Hungary, Sweden, France and Germany.

EU-US Relations

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on priorities for the forthcoming EU-US summit.

Caroline Flint: In preparing for the summit, EU-Transatlantic relations have most recently been discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 March 2009 and at the Gymnich, 27-28 March 2009.

EU-US Relations

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage partnership between the EU and the new US administration.

Caroline Flint: Since November 2008, the Government have had regular discussions with our EU partners on how to engage constructively with the new US administration.

General Affairs Council

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had in the most recent General Affairs Council on the contribution of the European Council's European Economic Recovery Plan to employment in the environmental sector.

Caroline Flint: On 16 March 2009, I attended the General Affairs and External Relations Council which discussed the proposal to invest 5 billion including on a number of carbon capture and storage and energy interconnection projects, ahead of final agreement at the spring European Council. This investment will help boost green jobs and lock-in low carbon infrastructure.

General Affairs Council

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had in the most recent General Affairs Council on EU policy on carbon capture and storage technology.

Caroline Flint: On 16 March 2009 I attended the General Affairs Council, which, among other items, discussed proposals to invest 1 billion on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects as part of the European Recovery Plan. This prepared the agreement reached at Spring European Council on 19 to 20 March 2009. Under this agreement 180 million will be available for four CCS projects proposed in the UK.

US-Iran Relations

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the implications of US-Iranian relations for UK foreign policy.

Bill Rammell: I fully support President Obama's recent message to the people and Government of Iran and welcome his commitment to direct engagement and a relationship based on mutual respect if Iran is willing to do the same. I believe that this offers a real opportunity for Iran to work constructively with the international community to restore confidence in its nuclear intentions and to contribute to peace and stability across the middle east. I also believe that that would offer a solid basis for the UK and Iran to resolve our bilateral differences. I urge Iran's leaders to respond positively to the opportunity before them.

Afghanistan

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Afghanistan remains one of the UK's top foreign policy priorities. The key political focus for Afghanistan in 2009 is the Presidential and Provincial Council elections which will take place on 20 August. We are actively working in support of the Afghans, the UN and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's International Security Assistance Force to help ensure these elections are successful. Voter registration has been successfully completed with over three million names added to the existing register.

The Balkans

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in the Balkans.

Caroline Flint: All countries in the Western Balkans remain committed to the goal of EU membership and to the process of political and economic reform required within the framework of the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process. The UK and its EU partners welcome this continuing commitment and remain actively engaged in support of this process, which is essential for the stability and prosperity of the region.

Sri Lanka

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: We have become increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka, particularly the fate of the many civilians caught in the conflict area. We have made repeated calls for both sides to agree an urgent humanitarian ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the conflict area safely and for increased humanitarian supplies to be brought in. Lasting peace can only come about through a political solution that fully takes into account the legitimate concerns of all communities in Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the US administration on  (a) combating the Taliban and  (b) troop levels in Afghanistan since January 2009.

Bill Rammell: The UK has regular discussions with the US administration on these issues at all levels of Government, including frequent high-level meetings. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary all discussed Afghanistan during their recent visits to Washington on 1-3 March 2009, 18 and 17 March 2009 respectively.

Afghanistan: Politics and Government

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Afghanistan remains one of the UK's top foreign policy priorities. The key political focus for Afghanistan in 2009 is the Presidential and Provincial Council elections which will take place on 20 August 2009. We are actively working in support of the Afghans, the UN and the International Security Assistance Force to help ensure these elections are successful. Voter registration has been successfully completed with over three million names added to the existing register.

Arms Trade: Exports

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 354W, on arms trade: exports, what assessment he has made of the compliance of UK legislation with the operational requirements of the EU Common Position on defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment as set out in Articles 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The UK is in a position to implement the Common Position, and will not require any change to UK Legislation to comply with its operational requirements. However, the Statutory Guidance contained within the Export Control Act 2002 still refers to the language in the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Statutory Guidance is currently being amended to reflect the adoption of the Common Position.

Bahrain: Human Rights

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the human rights situation in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives reporting on the human rights situation in Bahrain from a range of non-governmental organisations and interested parties including the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Society. An example of this would be the report of Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Office which is available online at:
	http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/bhsessionl.aspx
	Our embassy in Bahrain engages with human rights organisations, such as article 19, and regularly reports on the human rights situation.

Belarus

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 21W, whether the President of Belarus will be invited to attend the Eastern Partnership summit in May.

Caroline Flint: The issue of whether to invite President Lukashenko to the Eastern Partnership summit in May 2009 has not yet been decided. EU member states will be discussing this issue shortly.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and what recent discussions on the matter have taken place at EU level.

Caroline Flint: The Government remain concerned about the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and endorse the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board meeting on 25/26 March 2009. Despite some progress in addressing the conditionality for closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the PIC Steering Board expressed concern about political developments in BiH since it last convened in November 2008. I will place a copy of the PIC communiqu in the House Library.
	The current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 March 2009, which called upon BiH political leaders to engage with stronger determination on the reform agenda and to refrain from nationalist rhetoric. I will place a copy of the relevant General Affairs and External Relations Council conclusions in the House Library.
	EU Foreign Ministers also discussed BiH, as part of a broader discussion of the western Balkans, at their informal Gymnich meeting on 28 March 2009.

British Council: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 778W, on British Council: finance, if he will publish details of the professional evaluation in place to monitor the British Council's Reconnect Programme.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 27 March 2009
	 The British Council's Reconnect programme will be evaluated according to its ongoing monitoring and evaluation processes. The outcome of the British Council's programme and project evaluation is aggregated and published in the organisation's annual report.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the Government's expenditure on conflict resources in financial year 2008-09 was; and what proportion of this total was spent through the  (a) Conflict Prevention Pool,  (b) Stabilisation Aid Fund and  (c) Treasury Reserve for Peacekeeping.

Bill Rammell: The UK's total conflict resource envelope for 2008-09 (leaving aside the cost of UK military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq) was set at the time of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) at 559 million: 112 million Conflict Prevention Pool; 73 million Stabilisation Aid Fund; 374 million Peacekeeping Budget (PKB)although the PKB is an annual draw on the Treasury Reserve rather than part of the CSR settlement).

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what changes have been made to the funding for thematic programmes; what proportion of this funding will be allocated to  (a) security sector reform advisory,  (b) peacekeeping training,  (c) defence education in priority countries and  (d) the United Nations' Rule of Law Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Strategic Support to International Organisations Programme (SSIO) will merge the existing Conflict Prevention Pool International Capacity Building and Security and Small Arms Control Programmes. Of the total 6.5 million allocated to SSIO  (a) 1,883,000 (28.9 per cent.) has been allocated to security sector reform advisory,  (b) 950,000 (14.6 per cent.) has been allocated to UK peacekeeping training,  (c) 1,000,000 (15.3 per cent.) for defence education, and  (d) 100,000 (1.5 per cent.) to the UN's Rule of Law Unit from of a total 2,069,000 (31.8 per cent.) of support to the UN Secretariat. Additionally there is an element of 408,000 (6.2 per cent.) for support to strategic secondments to international organisations and a contingency element of 190,000 (2.9 per cent.).

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which former  (a) Members of the House of Lords and  (b) hon. Members who have left Parliament since 1997 have been appointed to public bodies for which his Department is responsible; and who made each such appointment.

Gillian Merron: None.

EU Countries: Overseas Residence

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consular and other support provided to British citizens who are detained in other EU jurisdictions.

Caroline Flint: Consular staff provide assistance to British nationals detained overseas, including within the EU. Our role is primarily one of welfare. We aim to contact British nationals within 24 hours of hearing of their detention. If they wish us to, consular staff will also visit them as soon as possible. We are always ready to look at ways we might improve the service we provide still further and welcome feedback.

Falkland Islands: Fisheries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much revenue has been derived from the sale of fishing licences in the Falkland Islands in the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The responsibility for the sale of fishing licences lies with the Falkland Islands Government. The Falkland Islands Government fisheries department supplied the following figures:
	
		
			  Financial year   million 
			 2003-04 11.9 
			 2004-05 10.2 
			 2005-06 13.6 
			 2006-07 15.5 
			 2007-08 14.2 
		
	
	Figures for the year ending 30 June 2009 have yet to be finalised.

Falkland Islands: Natural Resources

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in oil exploration and hydrocarbon development in the Falkland Islands.

Gillian Merron: The Falkland Islands Government are entitled to develop their hydrocarbon resources within their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the Government continue to support this. The Government last year approved the Falkland Islands Government's request to resume Open Door licensing for offshore oil exploration and production in five blocks. Companies have completed 2D, 3D and, in some cases Controlled Source Electro Magnetic surveys in preparation for drilling exploration wells. They have also conducted environmental surveys to assist with the preparation of environmental impact assessments that require approval before exploratory drilling consent is given.

Germany: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of incidents of anti-Semitism in Germany since December 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any official reports of anti-Semitism in Germany since December 2008.

G20

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of his overseas counterparts has  (a) accepted,  (b) declined and  (c) not yet reported to reply to an invitation to attend the G20 Summit.

Bill Rammell: At present, I expect all of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's counterparts who have been invited to the London G20 summit to attend events on the 1 and 2 of April 2009.

Hezbollah

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Government use to distinguish between Hezbollah's political and military wings.

Bill Rammell: The Government distinguish between those parts of Hezbollah which are legitimately involved in Lebanese politics and those who are actively concerned in terrorism.
	Since July 2008 the military wing of Hezbollah, including the Jihad council and all units reporting to it (including the Hezbollah external security organisation) has been proscribed as being concerned in terrorism, as set out in the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2008.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on policy on withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The draw-down of UK combat troops from Iraq will begin on 31 May 2009, and will be completed by 31 July. The draw-down, which has been agreed with the Iraqi Government, represents a fundamental change of mission as we move to a normal bilateral defence assistance relationship.
	From 31 July 2009 we will retain up to 400 troops focused on training and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts.
	The US has its own plans, as do other Coalition allies.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on a lasting resolution of the political status of Kosovo.

Caroline Flint: 56 states have now recognised Kosovo as an independent sovereign state, including the UK and 21 other EU member states. Discussions in the EU around the time of independence concluded that the decision to recognise Kosovo's independence is one for individual states to make, not the EU as a whole. Therefore, there have been no recent discussions on Kosovo's political status.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Operation EULEX to reach full operational capacity.

Caroline Flint: The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has been increasing its presence across Kosovo since reaching initial operation capability on 9 December 2008. The head of mission, General Yves de Kermabon, aims to achieve full operational capability, the point at which EULEX is fully carrying out its mandate, in the coming weeks.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of public perceptions of Operation EULEX held by residents of Kosovo.

Caroline Flint: The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) deployed in Kosovo in December 2008 at the invitation of the Government of Kosovo and with their full support. We assess that most Kosovo residents support EULEX and its mandate to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo. However, there is not yet any detailed independent evidence on public perceptions of the mission. The Government support EULEX in the full implementation of its mandate, including its engagement with all communities throughout Kosovo.

Madagascar: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to monitor the political situation in Madagascar.

Gillian Merron: Our high commission in Port Luis, which covers Madagascar and the British Interests Section and Honorary Consul in Antananarivo, have provided frequent reporting on the political situation since the current crisis intensified at the end of January 2009. Our officers from the high commission in Port Louis have also travelled to Madagascar periodically during the crisis.
	Our officials in London, Mauritius and Madagascar have been in regular contact with international community contacts such as the EU, US and other diplomatic contacts in Madagascar and capitals.
	On 14 March 2009, my noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, telephoned Jean Ping, chairperson of the commission of the African Union (AU) to discuss the latest developments and the AU's assessment of the situation. He also spoke to a number of senior African leaders at the London summit Africa outreach event on 16 March 2009.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken towards maintaining peace in Gaza since Christmas 2008.

Bill Rammell: We are working closely with the EU, US and regional partners to establish how best to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza.
	UN Security Council Resolution 1860, initiated by the UK, highlights the international community's clear and unequivocal call for a durable ceasefire in Gaza, and for the unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. It also calls for action to make a ceasefire effective and sustainable, including stopping arms trafficking into Gaza and opening the crossings into Gaza.
	The UK has pledged approximately 50 million to help towards alleviating the humanitarian situation in Gaza and we continue to urge the Israeli Government to ease border controls and permit the flow of essential supplies.
	We have also taken a proactive approach to help prevent the smuggling of arms, ammunition and weapons components to armed groups in Gazaalong with opening the crossings to legitimate goods. The London conference on 13 March 2009 built on the progress made in Copenhagen on 3-5 February 2009 and agreed a programme of action between the nine participating countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US). A copy of the programme of action is available for viewing online at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=Newsid=14977034

Morocco: EU External Trade

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions with his EU counterparts on steps to clarify the borders of Morocco for the purpose of trade between Morocco and the EU.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 30 March 2009
	 The Government currently have no plans to discuss the borders of Morocco with their EU counterparts.
	Our officials are in regular discussion with EU colleagues about a range of issues relating to Morocco. Trade is an important element of the UK's bilateral relationship with Morocco, and plays a significant part in the EU's co-operation with Morocco.
	The issue of Western Sahara remains part of the political dialogue between the EU and Morocco, which will be discussed at the next Association Council later this year. The Government regard the status of Western Sahara as undetermined pending UN efforts to broker a negotiated solution providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Naser Al-Shaer

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Naser Al-Shaer and other Palestinian parliamentarians in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are aware of reports on the arrest of Deputy Prime Minister Naser Al-Shaer and other Palestinian parliamentarians in the West Bank. However, we along with the international community want to see a lasting political solution to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. We do not think that arresting the Hamas political leadership in the West Bank is a positive step.

North Korea

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with HM Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on his comments on the recent elections in that country published on the Department's blog platform.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the blog entry with our ambassador in Pyongyang. Our ambassador has himself made clear that North Korea
	is not an idyllic country and that the policies of the governmentincluding a worrying nuclear programme, provocative military confrontation with the South, and a brutal human rights recordhave resulted in deep economic stagnation and have isolated the country from the rest of the world.
	Our ambassador is well aware of the serious human rights concerns we have with North Korea, and raises these regularly with senior North Korean officials.

Overseas Territories Consultative Council

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on economic situation, what expenditure was incurred under what budgetary headings his Department incurred on its Overseas Territories Consultative Council held on 28 and 29 October 2008.

Gillian Merron: The overall cost of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council held on 28 and 29 October 2008 was 31,688.61 which breaks down as follows:
	
		
			
			 Conference facilities, including a formal lunch and evening reception 15,869.16 
			 Accommodation 10,414.10 
			 Transport 5,040.51 
			 Miscellaneous items 364.84 
		
	
	All charges were funded by the Overseas Territories Programme Fund, which is administered by the Overseas Territories Directorate other than the cost of the evening reception which was funded by the Government Hospitality fund which is administered by Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has engaged any  (a) actors,  (b) musicians and  (c) other performers to support its initiatives over the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has used actors to support a range of training, recruitment and assessment initiatives. It is possible that musicians and performers have been used more widely in the FCO in the last five years, for example as part of specific public diplomacy efforts overseas. Detailed information about their use is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which non-governmental organisations the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms has met since his appointment; and what issues were raised.

Bill Rammell: The right hon. Jack McConnell MSP, the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, meets a range of governments, regional organisations and international institutions to promote dialogue on my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's initiative to improve the international mechanisms for conflict resolution. Meetings with non-governmental organisations are built into his programme when he visits the United Nations and others.

Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution has visited in his official role since his appointment; and what the costs of these visits were.

Bill Rammell: The right hon. Jack McConnell, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, has travelled to Brussels, New York and Cyprus (to take part in Exercise Joint Venture 08). The Ministry of Defence met the costs of the Cyprus visit. The estimated costs of the other two visits is 4,700.

Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what administrative support the Government provides for the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution; and what the cost has been of providing this support.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 22 January 2009
	 Administrative support for right hon. Jack McConnell MSP, the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, is currently provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from within existing resources.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken towards securing peace in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to my response of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 631W.
	We continue to raise the urgent need for a political solution with the Government of Sri Lanka. Since my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote to President Rajapakse in January 2009, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has spoken to the Sri Lankan President and the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs. My noble friend the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, has also had regular telephone contact with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, most recently on 16 March 2009, when they discussed the political and humanitarian situation. Our High Commission in Colombo conveys our concerns to the government of Sri Lanka at every opportunity.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Relations

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Prime Minister's special envoy to Sri Lanka to take up his post; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: On 12 February 2009, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the appointment of the right hon. Des Browne MP as his Special Envoy for Sri Lanka. The appointment is a measure of the UK's continuing commitment to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government are yet to accept the appointment, but we remain in ongoing discussions with them on the issue.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to monitor the political situation in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to my response of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1750W.
	Our high commission in Colombo continues to monitor the political situation in Sri Lanka closely, maintaining contact with major players. We regularly discuss the situation in Sri Lanka with international partners as well as the Government of Sri Lanka. Most recently my noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, spoke to the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs on 16 March 2009 about the political and humanitarian situation. Our view remains that a political solution that addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities in Sri Lanka is the only way to bring a sustainable end to the conflict.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese government on the political situation in Darfur.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with the Chinese Foreign Secretary Yang Jiechi on 1 February 2009. They discussed the situation in Darfur including the possibility of the International Criminal Court imminently indicting President Bashir for war crimes.
	My noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, discussed the issue with Chinese Assistant Minister for Africa Zhai Jun in Beijing on 20 February 2009.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently written to Premier Wen expressing his concern over the humanitarian impact of the government of Sudan's decision to expel 13 international humanitarian non-governmental organisations and this is an issue we will continue to discuss with the government of China.

Syrian Arab Republic: Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tourists have visited Syria from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Bill Rammell: The Government does not hold statistics of UK tourists visiting Syria.

Western Sahara: Fisheries

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 228W, on Western Sahara: fisheries, if he will make it his policy to seek the inclusion of a reference to Western Sahara in any future fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco.

Bill Rammell: The current EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Association (FPA) came into force on 28 February 2007 and runs for four years. Any future negotiations on the expiry of the FPA will take into account any changes in the current situation of Western Sahara that may occur over that time.

Western Sahara: Human Rights

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek the inclusion of a human rights monitoring role in the mandate for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara upon its renewal.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1598W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Plants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by his Department on flowers in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Overseas Aid: Forestry

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on overseas development assistance in respect of forestry research in  (a) each year since 1999 and  (b) 2009 on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by expenditure type.

Gareth Thomas: Forestry research is an important part of the Department for International Development's (DFID) new Research Strategy. DFID supports it through the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF) programmes (valued at 1.26 million per annum). DFID also contributes to forestry research through direct core support to the existing African sub-regional research organisations in east, central and west Africa. Details of DFID's contributions since 1999 are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  DFID's contribution 1999-2000 to 2008-09 
			   
			  Financial year  Centre for International Forestry Research  Forestry Research Programme  International Centre for Research in Agroforestry  Total 
			 2008-09 (1)630,000  (1)630,000 (1)1,260,000 
			  
			 2007-08 (1)630,000  (1)630,000 (1)1,260,000 
			  
			 2006-07 (1)630,000  (1)630,000 (1)1,260,000 
			  
			 2005-06 (1)600,000 (2)2,301,057 (1)600,000 (1)1,260,000 
			 (2)2,301,057 
			  
			 2004-05 (1)200,000 (2)2,200,000 (1)200,000 (1)400,000 
			  (2)400,000  (2)400,000 (2)3,000,000 
			  
			 2003-04 (2)411,198 (2)2,426,281 (2)400,000 (2)3,237,479 
			  
			 2002-03 (2)363,802 (2)2,920,000 (2)375,000 (2)3,658,802 
			  
			 2001-02 (2)395,000 (2)2,920,000 (2)360,867 (2)3,675,867 
			  
			 2000-01 (2)382,000 (2)2,920,000 (2)391,696 (2)3,693,696 
			  
			 1999-00 n/a (2)3,223,250 n/a (2)3,223,250 
			 Total for all years = 28,170,153 
			 n/a = not available (1) Core (2) Project 
		
	
	Further information on DFID's research strategy is available on the DFID website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/research/newresearch.asp

Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the proposed 30 million United Nations Peacebuilding Fund is planned to be allocated to Sierra Leone in each of the next three years; on what projects this money will be used; how the funding will be used to assist communities in Sierra Leone to recover from conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: On 1 March 2007, the Secretary-General of the United Nations formally announced that an allocation of US$35 million from the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) had been made for Sierra Leone. The Priority Action Plan, agreed with the government of Sierra Leone, identified the following five priority areas for the PBF: Youth Empowerment and Employment, Democracy and Good Governance, Justice and Security, Support to Increased Energy Capacity and Building of Public Administration.
	There have now been two project approval rounds undertaken by the in-country Steering Committee. The first in July 2007 which saw a total $16 million allocated for seven projects. A second round took place in July 2008 mirroring the first in terms of the number of projects agreed and funds disbursed. The remaining funds available to Sierra Leone from the PBF, $2.3 million, will shortly be allocated in a final approval round.
	The PBF has helped disadvantaged youths to start up small businesses, maintained the electricity supply to Freetown over the last six months and improved access to justice for the citizens of Sierra Leone. Further information on the PBF, progress on its work in Sierra Leone and the projects supported is available on the PBF website:
	http://www.unpbf.org/sierraleone/sierraleone.shtml

Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid his Department is providing for Sri Lanka  (a) bilaterally and  (b) via EU organisations in 2008-09.

Gareth Thomas: (a) The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed 5,000,000 of bilateral humanitarian assistance since September 2008:
	1,500,000 has been committed to the International Committee of the Red Cross for relief supplies such as food and plastic sheets for shelter and medical staff to treat the injured;
	1,000,000 has been committed to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for activities such as overseeing the registration of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and advocating to the government of Sri Lanka for better conditions in camp settlements;
	250,000 has been committed to International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for trucking and logistical services;
	250,000 has been committed to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food delivery and logistical services to other organisations such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
	335,000 has been committed to the IOM for emergency assistance in IDP camps;
	750,000 is under consideration for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for setting up the multi-donor Sri Lanka Emergency Response Fund which will give funds quickly to NGOs once established; and
	915,000 remains on hand ready to be flexibly programmed as the situation demands on the ground changes.
	 (b) EC official aid data for 2008 are not yet available.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan government on the humanitarian situation in that country.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is very concerned about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka, particularly the fate of the remaining civilians caught in the conflict area. We have made repeated calls for both the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTEE) to agree an urgent humanitarian ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the conflict area safely and for more humanitarian supplies to be brought in.
	My noble friend, Lord Malloch-Brown has regular telephone calls with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, most recently on the 16 March, when they discussed the political and humanitarian situation. Our high commission in Colombo continues to convey our concerns to the government of Sri Lanka at every opportunity.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children of each age at adoption who were adopted in each year since 1997 waited more than  (a) six,  (b) 12,  (c) 18,  (d) 24,  (e) 30,  (f) 36,  (g) 42,  (h) 48,  (i) 54 and  (j) 60 months to be adopted.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of children of each age at adoption who were adopted in each year since 2001 and who waited for more than  (a) six,  (b) 12,  (c) 18,  (d) 24,  (e) 30,  (f) 36,  (g) 42,  (h) 48,  (i) 54 and  (j) 60 months to be adopted has been placed in the House Library.
	Information on the time waited for children adopted prior to 2001 is not collected centrally by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Children in Care: Truancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of school pupils who are children in care have been classed as persistent absentees in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2007England (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	Information on the absence from school for looked after children was first collected in 2000, figures for earlier years are also published on the Department's website and can be found via the following links:
	Figures for 2002 to 2004 are available in volume reference (03/2005) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000580/index.shtml
	Figures for 2000-01 are available in volume reference (DH/VOL(OUT)01) here:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000523/index.shtml

Children: Exercise

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to encourage children to increase their levels of daily exercise.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are working together to increase the amount of physical education (PE) and sport that young people receive through the delivery of a national strategy, introduced in 2003. As a result, the percentage of five to 16-year-olds taking part in at least two hours high quality PE and sport each week has increased from 62 per cent. in 2003, to 90 per cent. in 2008.
	We now want to build on this and provide up to five hours of sport each week for young people. This will be made up of two hours of high quality PE within the school day for all five to 16-year-olds, and up to three further hours of sporting opportunities beyond the school day for all five to 19-year-olds.
	The two Departments are working closely with the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England to deliver the strategy across the network of school sport partnerships and county sport partnerships.

Children: Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided to local authorities for services for child victims of human trafficking in 2008-09.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is appropriate that each local authority shapes the services they provide to meet the needs of the local population. Where a local authority identifies a child who requires support, including those that have been trafficked, they are then responsible for identifying appropriate services to meet their needs, including being kept safe from any likely harm.

Children: Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish the Child Internet Safety Strategy.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 March 2009
	On 10 March 2009, the Executive Board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, made up of representation from across Government, industry, law enforcement and the third sector, agreed that the Child Internet Safety Strategy should be published in the autumn.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether staff in his Department  (a) received and  (b) proposed revisions to draft sections of Lord Laming's report on the Protection of Children in England.

Beverley Hughes: As is common practice, officials in this Department were kept informed about the development of Lord Laming's independent report and were given the opportunity to comment at key stages.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what powers his Department has to prevent a local authority publishing a redacted and anonymised full serious case review commissioned from its own local safeguarding children board.

Beverley Hughes: Lord Laming's Report, The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report, says
	SCRs inevitably include a great deal of case material that should remain confidential, not only to protect vulnerable people, but also because SCRs depend upon the cooperation of witnesses, often in a highly charged situation. Without this assurance many would be reluctant to participate in the process, rendering the task worthless. The future of SCRs depends, to a large degree, on the guarantee of confidentiality. Full reports should remain confidential beyond the immediate partners involved in a case....
	The Government agrees with Lord Laming's view. Government statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) identifies the importance of maintaining confidentiality in SCRs in respect of personal information contained within reports on the child, family members and others. It also highlights the importance of maintaining public confidence in the process of internal review, securing full and open participation from the different agencies and professionals involved and balancing the constraints on public information-sharing when criminal proceedings are outstanding. The importance of this is reinforced by the passage referred to above in Lord Laming's Report. Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out clearly that the LSCB SCR overview report should contain an executive summary that will be made public.
	In his Report Lord Laming states,
	The confidentiality of full SCRs makes the provision of a high-quality executive summary all the more important. Executive summaries should provide an accurate reflection of all the main points in the full report, include a copy of the full action plan, and provide the names of all the SCR panel members so that the public can have confidence that a senior and multi-agency panel, as well as an independent chair and independent author, have been in charge of the process.
	The Government have accepted Lord Laming's recommendation and will revise Working Together to Safeguard Children accordingly.
	Working Together is issued as guidance to local authorities under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and as such should be followed. Any departure from such guidance could be subject to public law action by the Secretary of State subject to the specific circumstances and context of the case.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not offer staff additional leave entitlement or bonus payments for Christmas.

Citizenship: GCSE

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what uptake his Department has estimated for the full GCSE in citizenship course starting in September 2009.

Jim Knight: No estimate has been made on the uptake of the full GCSE in citizenship course starting in September 2009.
	Many schools who use the GCSE short course in citizenship have indicated an interest in the full course. In 2008, 84,588 pupils at the end of key stage 4 were entered into the GCSE short course in citizenship.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: It is not possible to estimate the cost to the Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months without incurring disproportionate cost.

Economic Situation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) summits,  (b) conferences and  (c) seminars his Department has hosted since January 2008 at which a primary subject of discussion was the effect of the economic situation on matters within his Department's responsibility.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Responding to the economic situation is a high priority for the Government. Summits, conferences and seminars are some of the methods used to engage stakeholders in this work and ensure action is co-ordinated and effective. While the Department has not hosted any summits, conferences or seminars at which a primary focus was the effect of the economic downturn, Ministers and senior officials have attended a number of meetings with stakeholders at which the economic situation was discussed.

Health Education: Sex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1248W, on health education: sex, if he will place in the Library a copy of the evidence the Sex and Relationships Education Steering Group commissioned on parents' views on sex and relationships education; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: A copy of the presentations given to the sex and relationships education (SRE) steering groupwhich summarised the available evidence on parents' views on SREwill be placed in the House Libraries. The presentations provided the basis for detailed discussion by the steering group (many of whom have practical experience of working with parents on SRE) on how schools can better engage with parents on SRE delivery.
	We believe that the provision of SRE should be a partnership between parents and schools. Parents should lead on instilling values in their children, but schools have a clear role in giving young people accurate information and helping them to develop the skills they need to make safe and responsible choices. Available evidence suggests that the majority of parents support the provision of SRE in schools.

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local safeguarding children boards are chaired by  (a) an independent chair,  (b) the Director of Children's Services in the local authority,  (c) a senior officer from the local health authority and  (d) a senior officer from the local police authority; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Department maintains a list of the chairs of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) which includes information about the status of the chair. The latest list of LSCB chairs is available on the Every Child Matters website. The website address to access the list is:
	http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/IG00079/

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment his Department has made of the compliance of local safeguarding children boards with the provisions of paragraph 5  (a) of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Local Safeguarding Children Boards' (LSCBs) compliance and effectiveness in their statutory role to develop policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is monitored by local authority scrutiny, through peer review based on self evaluation, performance indicators and joint audit and through the judgments made by inspectorates. The work of LSCBs has to be planned properly and fit within a framework of action set out in the Children and Young People's Plan.
	Ofsted assesses and inspects local authority area level services for children, including the effectiveness of the LSCB. It has done so through annual performance assessments (APAs) and joint area reviews (JARs) of children's services. From April 2009 it will do so, with other inspectorates, as part of new arrangements for comprehensive area assessment (CAA). There will also be a three yearly cycle of inspections specifically of safeguarding and services for looked after children, undertaken by Ofsted and the new Care Quality Commission.
	In his recent report, The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report, Lord Laming states that
	Despite Local Safeguarding Children Boards being relatively new, they are already having a positive impact on services for protecting children.
	Ofsted published 21 Joint Area Reviews of children's services between April to June 2008 and in 18 of those they reported that LSCBs are already making a significant positive difference to their local services. Lord Laming's report makes a number of recommendations designed to strengthen further the positive impact of LSCBs. The Government have accepted Lord Laming's recommendations and set out in its immediate response, published on 12 March, how we will strengthen the role of the LSCB so that they challenge every member of the Children's Trust, through the Children's Trust Board, on their success in ensuring that children and young people are kept safe. The LSCB should also publish an annual report on the effectiveness of arrangements locally for keeping children safe, as recommended by Lord Laming.
	The Government will publish a detailed response to all Lord Laming's recommendations by the end of April 2009.

Music Standards Fund

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent on the Music Standards Fund in each year since 1999, expressed in 2008-09 prices.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Music Standards Fund was introduced in 1999/2000. The table shows the total amounts allocated through the standards fund in each year since then, and expressed in 2008-09 prices.
	
		
			   million, rounded 
			   Amount  Amount in 2008-09 prices 
			 1999-2000 40 50 
			 2000-01 50 62 
			 2001-02 50 61 
			 2002-03 59.5 70 
			 2003-04 61 70 
			 2004-05 59.5 66 
			 2005-06 61 67 
			 2006-07 64 68 
			 2007-08 82.5 85 
			 2008-09 82.5 82.5 
		
	
	Between 2005-06 and 2008-09 local authorities have been expected to achieve efficiency gains of at least 2.5 per cent. per annum in line with the recommendations of the Gershon review.

Offences against Children: Haringey

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether Lord Laming was permitted to read the serious case review into the death of Baby P as part of his investigation into safeguarding.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 26 March 2009
	Lord Laming was given permission to read the serious case review into the death of Baby P to inform his work; however his remit was to prepare a report on progress nationally on safeguarding and child protection. He also had access to Ofsted's first annual report of evaluations of serious case reviews published in December 2008, the two biennial overview reports of serious case reviews published in January 2008, and the emerging findings of the next biennial overview report of serious case reviews to be published this spring.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to link the allocation of the Nursery Education Grant to outcomes achieved through the early years foundation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: In the Government's recent document, Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare, published in January we committed to exploring with local authorities the principles and practicalities of linking funding for the free early education entitlement more closely to the contributions providers make to children's development outcomes.
	Officials in the Department began discussions with local authorities on this and other issues in the document through a series of regional events during March.

Pupils: Nutrition

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding the Government has made available for improving nutrition in  (a) primary schools,  (b) secondary schools and  (c) early years settings in the last 12 months; how much funding it has allocated for such work in 2009; and which schemes to improve nutrition in early years settings it has (i) funded in the last 12 months and (ii) plans to fund in 2009.

Jim Knight: We made available 220 million between 2005-06 to 2007-08 to assist authorities and schools in improving the quality of school lunches and other school food. A further 240 million is being provided between 2008-09 and 2010-11, to support the costs of school lunches.
	Information is not available on how this funding is allocated between primary and secondary schools. The total amount of funding provided to maintained schools, academies and CTCs for the three years to 2009-10 is 239 million, as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2007-08 70 
			 2008-09 80 
			 2009-10 80 
		
	
	The Government provide approximately 37.5 million per annum to fund the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which gives an entitlement to all four to six-year-old children in LEA-maintained infant, primary and special schools, to a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.

School Leaving: GCSE

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils left secondary school without a GCSE at grade D or above in mathematics and English in ( a) North Wiltshire,  (b) Swindon,  (c) London and  (d) England in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Schools: Boilers

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex are heated by oil-powered boilers.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold this information. This information is usually held by local authorities.

Schools: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many  (a) maintained and  (b) non-maintained special schools in the (i) top and (ii) bottom decile of area deprivation as determined by the income deprivation affecting children index were judged to be (A) outstanding, (B) good, (C) adequate and (D) inadequate at their last Ofsted inspection;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of schools assessed as inadequate by Ofsted there are in each decile of area deprivation.

Jim Knight: These are matters for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and copies of her replies have been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 23 March 2009:
	 Parliamentary Question Number 264609: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) maintained and (b) non-maintained special schools in the (i) top and (ii) bottom decile of area deprivation as determined by the income deprivation affecting children index were judged to be (A) outstanding, (B) good, (C) adequate and (D) inadequate at their last Ofsted inspection.
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	Table A shows the number of maintained special schools and non-maintained special schools inspected by Ofsted in the 10% most deprived and 10% least deprived areas, along with their inspection outcomes. These indices of deprivation are taken from the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) 2007, produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	
		
			  Table AOverall effectiveness of special schools at their most recent inspection under the current inspection framework 
			Overall effectiveness: number of schools inspected  
			  Type of special school  IDACI( 1)  Outstanding  Good  Satisfactory  Inadequate  Total 
			 Maintained special schools 10% most deprived areas 38 56 18 3 115 
			  10% least deprived areas 23 55 17 2 97 
			
			 Non-maintained special schools 10% most deprived areas 0 0 0 0 0 
			  10% least deprived areas 3 5 3 0 11 
			 (1) Income deprivation affecting children index 2007 (Department for Communities and Local Government) 
		
	
	As at 2 March 2009, 984 maintained special schools and 73 non-maintained schools were open in England; 958 of the maintained special schools and 70 of the non-maintained special schools have been inspected by Ofsted up to 31 December 2008, the latest inspection data available. Schools in the 10% least deprived and 10% most deprived areas were then identified using their postcodes.
	One non-maintained special school in the 10% of most deprived areas was last inspected under the previous inspection framework, in use before September 2005. This is not included in Table A. The inspection outcome for this non-maintained special school was good. Under the previous school inspection framework (commonly known as Section 10), the overall effectiveness judgement was made using a seven point scale: excellent, very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, poor and very poor. It is not possible to operate a simple read-across approach from a seven- to a four-point scale. Ofsted's criteria for making inspection judgements about schools are clearly set out in our inspection guidance. Inspectors do not make reference to, or comparisons with, the previous inspection framework.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 23 March 2009:
	 Parliamentary Question Number 264670: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of schools assessed as inadequate by Ofsted there are in each decile of area deprivation.
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	Table A shows the number and proportion of maintained schools found to be inadequate at their last inspection, allocated to ten bands according to the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) 2007, produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government, where 1 indicates the most deprived 10%, and 10 indicates the least deprived 10%.
	
		
			  Table ASchools with inadequate overall effectiveness at their most recent inspection, by area deprivation 
			  Bands of deprivation (based on IDACI( 1) )  Number of schools  Percentage 
			 1 (most deprived 10%) 87 19 
			 2 58 13 
			 3 68 15 
			 4 54 12 
			 5 52 11 
			 6 39 8 
			 7 27 6 
			 8 31 7 
			 9 30 6 
			 10 (least deprived 10%) 17 4 
			 Total 463 100 
			 (1) Income deprivation affecting children index 2007 (Department for Communities and Local Government)  Note: Percentages are rounded and do not always add exactly to 100 
		
	
	As of 2 March 2009, there were 22,391 maintained schools open in England. 22,011 of these have been inspected by Ofsted up to 31 December 2008, the latest data available, and 463 were found to be inadequate at their most recent inspection. The IDACI was used to allocate these schools into ten bands, based on their postcodes.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Schools: Offensive Weapons

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils have been arrested for taking weapons into schools in  (a) Essex local authority,  (b) Southend unitary authority and  (c) Thurrock unitary authority in the last 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally. The data on arrests held by the Home Office cover arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) broken down at main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery; they would not show the number of people arrested specifically for taking weapons into schools. It is not possible to obtain the individual circumstances of persons arrested (for example whether the person arrested is a pupil) from the data on arrests held by the Home Office.

Special Educational Needs: Per Capita Costs

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much on average his Department spent per pupil with special educational needs in  (a) Braintree constituency and  (b) Essex in the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Braintree constituency is not available. In addition it is for local authorities to determine how they spend their funds locally.
	The following table shows the budgeted net expenditure by Essex local authority and England on the provision of education for children with special educational needs from 2004-05 to 2008-09:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the education of children with special educational needs 
			   England  Essex local authority 
			  per pupil per pupil 
			 2004-05 3,774,757,000 2,700 81,359,000 2,640 
			 2005-06 4,120,549,000 2,900 87,946,000 2,760 
			 2006-07 4,481,245,000 3,040 96,982,000 2,990 
			 2007-08 4,863,604,000 3,240 103,046,000 3,070 
			 2008-09 5,098,916,000 3,310 126,001,000 3,600 
			  Notes: 1. Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools. 2. The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN. In 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 local authorities in England also budgeted 499.6 million, 528.5 million, 554.9 million and 552.6 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table as figures are not available prior to 2005-06. 3. The number of pupils with SEN for each year is calculated as the combination of the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils in special schools, the headcount of the number of pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools with statements, the headcount of the number of pupils in pupil referral units with statements, the headcount of SEN pupils without statements in maintained nursery, primary, and secondary schools, the headcount of SEN pupils without statements in pupil referral units and the headcount of pupils in independent schools and academies with statements. These figures are drawn from the DCSF January Schools Census. 4. Pupil numbers are only available up to 2008 and consequently we have been unable to convert pupil numbers to a financial year basis as the 2009 pupil numbers are not available yet. Consequently there is a mismatch between the financial year planned expenditure and the academic year pupil numbers. The number of pupils with SEN in the January preceding the financial year have been used to calculate the unit costs provided above (e.g. the 2008-09 unit cost is calculated by dividing the 2008-09 planned expenditure by the January 2008 pupil numbers). 5. Total expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 with per pupil figures rounded to the nearest 10. 6. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 23 March 2009. 7. Financial data are taken from local authorities' Children, Schools and Families budget statements (formally section 52) submitted to the DCSF while pupil numbers are drawn from the DCSF January schools census.

Special Educational Needs: Per Capita Costs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much on average his Department and its predecessor spent on each pupil with special educational needs in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Castle Point constituency is not available. In addition, it is for local authorities to determine how they spend their funds locally.
	The following table shows the budgeted net expenditure by Essex local authority and England on the provision of education for children with special educational needs from 2004-05 to 2008-09.
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the education of children with special educational needs 
			   England  Essex local authority 
			  per pupil per pupil 
			 2004-05 3,774,757,000 2,700 81,359,000 2,640 
			 2005-06 4,120,549,000 2,900 87,946,000 2,760 
			 2006-07 4,481,245,000 3,040 96,982,000 2,990 
			 2007-08 4,863,604,000 3,240 103,046,000 3,070 
			 2008-09 5,098,916,000 3,310 126,001,000 3,600

Special Educational Needs: Pupil Exclusions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of pupils with non-statemented special educational needs received at least one  (a) fixed-term and  (b) permanent exclusion from a mainstream school in each local authority area in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of pupils with statements of special educational needs received at least one  (a) fixed-term and  (b) permanent exclusion from a mainstream school in each local authority area in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many and what percentage of pupils without special educational needs received at least one  (a) fixed-term and  (b) permanent exclusion from mainstream schools in each local authority area in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data on pupil characteristics linked to exclusions were collected in the school census for the first time in 2005/06, but were collected from secondary schools only. In 2006/07, data were also collected from primary and special schools. However, the requested information for one year could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	This is because the special educational needs status can change between periods of exclusion and the Department is currently working on a methodology for the analysis of this information.

Special Educational Needs: Truancy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents of children with  (a) statemented and  (b) non-statemented special educational needs were fined for the unauthorised absence of their child from mainstream schools in 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: This information is not collected centrally.

Specialised Diplomas: Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils enrolled on diploma courses are entitled to free school meals.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: In the summer we will have information about the proportions of pupils entered for diplomas, broken down by free school meals for those pupils sitting examinations in 2009.

UK Council for Child Internet Safety

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will list the  (a) members and  (b) secretariat of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety.

Beverley Hughes: The Secretariat for UKCCIS is made up officials from the Home Office, Becta and DCSF.
	The following is an alphabetical list of members of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) as of 16 February 2009. Organisation name is used in the main, except where the member is acting in an individual capacity.
	3TM
	Activision/Vivendi
	Advertising Association
	Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
	AOL UK
	Association for Infant Mental Health
	Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS)
	Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS)
	Bebo
	Paul Beresford
	British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)
	British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
	British Computer Society (BCS)
	British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA)
	British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)
	British Standards Institute
	British Telecommunications Plc (BT)
	Broadband Stakeholder Group
	Annette Brooke
	Carphone Warehouse Group Plc
	Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)
	Childnet International
	Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS)
	Richard Clayton
	Crisp Thinking
	Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
	Digital Media Group
	Disney
	Dixons Group
	Electronic Arts
	Joe Elliot
	Elysium Gaming
	Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA)
	Entertainment Retailers Association
	E Safety Ltd.
	Facebook
	Keri Facer
	Family and Parenting Institute
	Family Online Safety Institute
	Family Welfare Association (now renamed Family Action)
	Game Group
	Adam Gee
	Alisdair Gillespie
	Jon Gisby
	Google
	Independent Commission for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS)
	Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
	Intellect
	Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE)
	Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB)
	Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
	Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA)
	Intuitive Media
	Jagex
	Anthony Lilley
	LINX
	London School of Economics
	Mastertronic Group
	Media Literacy Task Force
	Mediawatch
	Microsoft
	Andrea Millwood Hargrave
	Mobile Broadband Group
	Myspace
	National Academy for Parenting Practitioners
	National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)
	National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
	National Children's Bureau
	National Children's Homes (NCH)
	National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
	NC Soft
	News Corporation
	Nickelodeon
	Nintendo
	Northamptonshire County Council
	Office of Communications (Ofcom)
	Open Rights Group
	Orange
	The Overtis Group Limited
	Oxford University
	Pan-European Game Information (PEGI)
	Papyrus
	Parenting UK
	Parentline Plus
	Phorm
	Piczo
	Press Complaints Commission
	Research In Motion
	Fiona Romeo
	Samaritans
	Sandbach High School  Sixth Form College
	Sentry Parental Controls
	Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
	Stop It Now
	South West Grid for Learning
	Symantec
	Telefonica 02 UK
	Thus PLC
	Tiga
	Tiscali
	T-Mobile
	Ubisoft
	University for Industry (Ufi)UK Online Centres
	Virgin Media
	Vodafone UK
	Monica Whitty
	Yahoo
	Young Scot

UK Council for Child Internet Safety

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times the UK Council for Child Internet Safety has met; who was present at each meeting; and what was discussed at each meeting.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 March 2009
	The Executive Board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety has met twice. The first meeting was on 9 December 2008 and the most recent was 10 March 2009. The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for 9 June 2009.
	Meeting notes and attendance lists from all board meetings are published online on the UKCCIS website
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ukccis/management.shtml

Unemployment: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many individuals resident in Eastbourne constituency aged between 16 and 24 years are not in employment, training or full-time education.

Jim Knight: Information on the number of 16 to 24-year-olds resident in the Eastbourne constituency who are not in employment, training or full-time education is not available.
	However, we can use information collected by the Connexions service to estimate the number and proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) at local authority level. The 2008 estimate for East Sussex is that 1,160 16 to 18-year-olds were NEET (7.2 per cent. of the 16 to 18-year-old population). Connexions services do not collect information on 19 to 24-year-olds, or provide information to the Department at constituency level.

Young People: Carers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children under the age of 16-years have been identified as young carers in  (a) Essex local authority,  (b) Southend unitary authority and  (c) Thurrock unitary authority.

Beverley Hughes: The 2001 Census, which is the only source of nationally comparable data on the number of carers of all ages, indicated that the number of young carers aged under 16 in Essex local authority was 2000, 300 in Southend unitary authority and 300 in Thurrock unitary authority.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Council Tax Benefit

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of raising the income level at which a household no longer receives full council tax benefit to 116 a week for  (a) a single person aged under 25 years,  (b) a single person aged over 25 years and  (c) a couple of working age.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 25 March 2009
	 I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 450W.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department worked with the Carbon Trust on a range of measures to improve communications and staff engagement, as the conventional audit based scheme did not, on this occasion, offer any additional benefits to the information provided by our PFI estates partner.
	The Department has now committed to meeting the new carbon standard, which has replaced the Energy Efficiency Accreditation scheme.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is contained in the following table. The data reflect information currently held on the Department's personnel computer system.
	
		
			  Last 12 months  Number of staff disciplined due to poor sickness record  As a percentage of the total work force( 1)  Number of staff whose employment was terminated due to poor sickness record  As a percentage of the total work force( 1) 
			  2009 
			 February 626 0.58 58 0.05 
			 January 1,000 0.93 77 0.07 
			  
			  2008 
			 December 762 0.71 64 0.06 
			 November 673 0.63 50 0.05 
			 October 714 0.67 66 0.06 
			 September 527 0.45 73 0.06 
			 August 444 0.38 57 0.05 
			 July 619 0.52 71 0.06 
			 June 532 0.46 59 0.05 
			 May 563 0.49 70 0.06 
			 April 694 0.60 69 0.06 
			 March 661 0.57 48 0.04 
			 (1) Total work force includes all staff in the Department with an open civil service contract as at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reference point, the last working day of each month.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP does not own any buildings. Vacated buildings are handed back to Trillium (our PFI provider) and maintenance and disposal are at no cost to the Exchequer.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps have been taken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department for Work and Pensions does not own its estate, but accesses fully serviced accommodation from its PFI estates partner Trillium. The Department looks for improvements to the thermal efficiency of buildings to be achieved either through an ongoing programme of life cycle works or specific spend-to-save projects.
	Due to the scale of the Department and the associated life cycle works programme it is possible to identify individual projects, and the elements within them which would improve the thermal efficiency of a building, only at a disproportionate cost. However energy use, and energy efficiency across the estate, are monitored very closely.
	A range of energy efficiency spend-to-save projects have been undertaken over several years. During the past 12 months only one project focusing specifically on the thermal efficiency of building has been completed. March 2008 saw the conclusion of a project to fit heating valve insulation covers, which commenced in 2006, with a total of 33,200 fitted across the estate. Between January and March 2008 53 buildings were completedwith an average of 43 units installed per building.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress his Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows the Department's performance against the sustainable operations on the Government estate target to increase energy efficiency per square metre of its estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, compared with a 1999-2000 baseline.
	Additionally, energy efficiency is also shown as a measurement of energy use against the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) permanent staff in post within the Department since 1999-2000.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Energy efficiency kWh/m( 2)  Percentage c hange compared to 1999-2000  Energy efficiency kWh/FTE  Percentage c hange compared to 1999-2000 
			 1999-2000 100.00 n/a 100.00 n/a 
			 2000-01 89.62 -10.38 95.88 -4.12 
			 2001-02 94.46 -5.54 95.09 -4.91 
			 2002-03 96.94 -3.06 92.59 -7.41 
			 2003-04 93.29 -6.71 94.96 -5.04 
			 2004-05 99.05 -0.95 101.34 1.34 
			 2005-06 94.01 -5.99 99.55 -0.45 
			 2006-07 105.10 5.10 106.89 6.89 
			 2007-08 97.53 -2.47 94.27 -5.73 
		
	
	A number of other issues affect the achievement of this target and need to be considered when assessing performance. To meet needs of citizens and to deliver significantly improved customer service the Department has experienced an unprecedented increase in the use of information technology since 1999-2000. While this has provided significant efficiency gains it has also resulted in increased energy consumptionadversely impacting on targets for reduction in carbon and increased energy efficiency.

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which former  (a) hon. Members who left Parliament since 1997 and  (b) members of the House of Lords have been appointed to public bodies within his Department's responsibility; and who made each appointment.

Jonathan R Shaw: There have been no hon. Members who left Parliament since 1997 appointed to the public bodies sponsored by my Department.
	The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) currently has Baroness Hollis on their Board as non-executive member. Her period of appointment is from 12 January 2006 to 11 January 2012. Appointments to the TPAS Board are not ministerial appointments, but are made either by the board itself or voted for by the volunteers of the organisation.
	Information about the political activity of ministerial appointees is recorded and publicised in accordance with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.

Departmental Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Angus of 27 March 2006,  Official Report, column 741W, on public relations companies, 
	(1)  if he will list the public relations companies that have had contracts with  (a) his Department,  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and  (c) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations since March 2006; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such contract;
	(2)  how much was spent on each of the firms listed in the answer since June 2001. [Official Report, 9 September 2009, Vol. 496, c. 30MC.]

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested in the two questions above is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  000 
			  DWP and its Agencies:  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Geronimo n/a 459 692 397 777 491 0 
			 Hill and Knowlton n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 The Forster Company n/a 0 0 217 0 0 0 
			 Trimedia Harrison Cowley Ltd (formerly Citigate Communications) n/a 0 0 0 190 133 0 
			 Fishburn Hedges n/a 0 0 0 369 295 598 
			 August One n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Porter Novelli n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Consolidated Communications n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Munroe and Foster n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 QBO Bell Pottinger n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 COI n/a 0 0 17 33 0 17 
			 Band and Brown n/a 0 242 0 0 0 0 
			 Beattie Communications n/a 0 o o 0 0 0 
			 Pergoda n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 GCI London n/a 0 308 383 112 0 0 
			  NDPB's:
			  (1) Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
			 Mandate (formerly AS Biss) n/a n/a n/a 129 180 241 0 
			 Weber Shandwick n/a 0 0 0 0 0 133 
			 GCI (UK) n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Exposure n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Eloqui n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 PR21 n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Furner Communications n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  (2) Independent Living Fund(ILF)
			 Engage Group (formerly Limehouse) n/a 0 0 0 0 27 23 
			 Hill and Knowlton n/a 0 0 0 0 19 12 
			  (3) Pensions Protection Fund (PPF)
			 Fishburn Hedges n/a 0 0 0 36 71 26 
			 Martin Adeney Associates n/a 46 75 63 20 0 0 
			 David Felton Media Consultancy n/a 0 0 0 78 71 77 I 
			 Warwick Emmanuel n/a 2 16 26 33 27 45 
			 Compro PR n/a 29 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Impact Press and PR n/a 39 19 21 48 14 0 
			 Harris Associates n/a 6 80 93 109 123 93 
			 Nexus n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  (4) The Pensions Regulator (TPR)
			 Citigate Dewe Rogerson n/a 0 0 0 7 0 0 
			  (5) Remploy
			 Martin Adeney Associates 0 46 75 63 20 0 0 
			 David Felton Media Consultancy 0 0 0 0 78 71 77 
			 Warwick Emmanuel 0 2 16 26 33 27 45 
			 Compro PR 0 29 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Impact Press and PR 0 39 19 21 48 14 0 
			 Harris Associates 0 6 80 93 109 123 93 
			 Nexus 0 30 21 21 37 10 0 
			 n/a = Information is not available for 2001-02 as records were not held centrally and the Central Office of Information service was not being used. 
		
	
	The following NDPBs and other bodies have reported that they have incurred no expenditure with public relations agencies in the period in question:
	Disability Employment Advisory Committee
	Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board
	Equality 2025
	Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
	Personal Accounts Delivery Authority
	Pensions Ombudsman
	Social Security Advisory Committee
	Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman
	The Pensions Advisory Service
	Working Ventures UK
	Motability
	Independent Review Service for the Social Fund
	The Disability Rights Commission, which was referred to in the March 2006 question, was dissolved from September 2007 and its paper and electronic records have been archived. The Department would incur disproportionate cost in accessing these records to obtain the required information.

Departmental Recycling

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in 2007-08.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table gives information on waste produced and recycled by the Department for Work and Pensions for 2007-08. It reflects the information reported within the 2008 Sustainable Development in Government report.
	
		
			   Metric tonnes/percentage 
			 Amount of waste produced (Metric tonnes) 20,344.55 
			 Amount of waste recycled (Metric tonnes) 12,954.26 
			 Amount recycled as a percentage of waste produced 64

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Employment Schemes

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employers have signed up to the Jobcentre Plus local employment partnerships; how many people have found employment through the scheme  (a) in each year since the scheme was launched and  (b) in each of the last 24 months in each (i) region and (ii) Jobcentre Plus district.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many employers have signed up to Jobcentre Plus' Local Employment partnerships; how many people have found employment through the scheme (a) in each year since the scheme was launched and (b) in each of the last 24 months in each (i) region and (ii) Jobcentre Plus district. These are matters that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Through Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs), Jobcentre Plus and its partners work in business partnership with employers. LEPs aim to enable employers to recruit more of our priority customers - people who don't have a job and who, because of the relative disadvantage they face in the labour market, can often be overlooked in the recruitment process.
	LEPs were announced in the March 2007 budget, covering at that stage five major retailers. In July 2007 the Government announced that the LEP approach would be extended to all sectors of the economy. For Jobcentre Plus, the essential first stage of this expanded LEP initiative was an extensive programme of employer engagement - negotiations with many individual employers to establish whether, and in what specific ways, the employer could agree to work through an LEP-style business partnership.
	By the end of July 2007 25 employers had committed to working with us through LEPs; by the end of December 2007 that number had grown to more than 300. During 2008 we continued to engage with new employers, including at local level many small and medium sized enterprises. By the end of January 2009 more than 20,000 employers had recruited through LEPs.
	Jobcentre Plus has collected administrative data on the numbers of people finding jobs through LEPs since the initiative began. This process does not involve the same quality assurance approach as National Statistics: our administrative data is internally validated to assure its accuracy, in line with NAO guidelines. Monthly figures are available starting from November 2007, when a new system for recording outcomes was introduced.
	I enclose at Annex 1 a Table showing, by Jobcentre Plus Region and District, the numbers of people recorded as having found jobs through LEPs in each month from November 2007 and a cumulative figure for the period up to and including October 2007. (The total number of LEP job outcomes recorded before November 2007 was 1,551.)
	The Table shows that, by the end of January 2009, the latest month for which complete information is available, a total of 116,805 LEP job outcomes had been recorded by Jobcentre Plus.
	
		
			  N umber of people recorded as having found jobs through Local Employment Partnerships 
			  2007-08 
			   Job outcomes up to and including October 2007  November 2007  December 2007  January 2008  February 2008  March 2008  Total job outcomes 2007-08 
			  East Midlands 5 2 0 10 12 39 68 
			 Derbyshire 0 2 0 4 1 7 14 
			 Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 5 0 0 5 9 28 47 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 1 1 3 5 
			 
			  East of England 12 3 6 29 4 30 84 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 0 0 0 20 0 5 25 
			 Cambridgeshire and Suffolk 9 0 5 2 3 3 22 
			 Essex 2 0 0 2 0 18 22 
			 Norfolk 5 3 1 1 1 4 15 
			 
			  London 652 276 144 165 164 52 1,453 
			 Central London 261 8 7 8 8 4 296 
			 City and East London 95 23 45 44 34 14 255 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth 139 50 19 36 70 1 315 
			 North and North East London 40 171 66 15 24 17 333 
			 South London 81 22 7 49 13 5 177 
			 West London 36 2 0 13 15 11 77 
			  North East 183 0 0 15 57 40 295 
			 Northumbria 11 0 0 11 7 10 39 
			 South Tyne and Wear Valley 164 0 0 1 4 28 197 
			 Tees Valley 8 0 0 3 46 2 59 
			 
			  North West 144 3 5 10 37 11 210 
			 Cheshire and Warrington 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester Central 8 0 2 0 19 4 33 
			 Greater Manchester East and West 46 0 0 0 2 1 49 
			 Greater Mersey 75 0 0 1 1 0 77 
			 Lancashire 0 2 3 8 7 3 23 
			 Liverpool and Wirral 15 0 0 0 7 1 23 
			 
			  Scotland 212 174 36 74 124 93 713 
			 Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Inverclyde 62 0 13 10 22 12 119 
			 Edinburgh and Lothian and Borders 67 0 15 0 5 3 90 
			 Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside 85 44 5 26 21 13 194 
			 Glasgow 23 3 1 13 2 7 49 
			 Highlands, Islands, Clyde Coast and Grampian 0 22 1 20 66 46 155 
			 Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire 0 80 1 5 8 12 106 
			 
			  South East 61 7 5 10 12 37 132 
			 Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire 0 0 0 0 1 4 5 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 4 6 12 22 
			 Kent 58 0 0 5 2 21 86 
			 Surrey and Sussex 4 7 5 0 3 0 19 
			 
			  South West 0 1 3 31 24 39 98 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 1 4 20 31 56 
			 Dorset and Somerset 0 0 1 25 1 0 27 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon 0 0 0 2 2 3 7 
			 West of England 0 1 1 0 1 4 7 
			 
			  Wales 3 220 10 41 42 30 346 
			 North and Mid Wales 1 8 0 36 5 3 53 
			 South East Wales 2 4 9 0 12 4 31 
			 South Wales Valleys 0 208 0 3 23 7 241 
			 South West Wales 0 0 1 2 2 16 21 
			 
			  West Midlands 117 75 8 5 19 24 248 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 0 8 0 0 12 20 40 
			 Black Country 139 0 2 0 0 0 141 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire 1 42 6 5 4 2 60 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 
			 The Marches 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 
			 
			  Yorks and Humber 162 12 5 17 33 26 255 
			 North and East Yorkshire and the Humber 83 10 0 2 13 2 110 
			 South Yorkshire 31 2 1 13 9 13 69 
			 West Yorkshire 48 0 4 2 11 11 76 
			  Contact Centres( 1)   9 
			 
			 Totals for 2007-08   3,911 
		
	
	
		
			  2008-09 
			   April 2008  May 2008  June 2008  July 2008  August 2008  September 2008  October 2008  November 2008  December 2008  January 2009  Total job outcomes 2008-09 
			  East Midlands 106 135 311 339 425 688 1,765 1,186 857 905 6,717 
			 Derbyshire 24 22 148 114 153 161 230 161 70 182 1,265 
			 Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 0 49 107 146 181 276 278 344 485 414 2,280 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 71 35 11 37 32 69 253 164 67 105 844 
			 Nottinghamshire 11 29 45 42 59 182 1,004 517 235 204 2,328 
			 
			  East of England 54 55 211 525 589 980 1,262 1,298 551 755 6,280 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 0 10 28 51 83 175 339 361 195 250 1,492 
			 Cambridgeshire and Suffolk 27 21 65 213 212 377 335 283 151 195 1,879 
			 Essex 23 15 35 91 101 183 326 374 119 195 1,462 
			 Norfolk 4 9 83 170 193 245 262 280 86 115 1,447 
			 
			  London 482 485 965 1,691 1,908 2,317 2,875 3,488 1,932 3,332 19,475 
			 Central London 28 31 234 257 542 214 212 391 226 239 2,374 
			 City and East London 31 39 124 356 213 293 462 763 436 925 3,642 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth 219 150 185 241 213 316 357 411 225 516 2,833 
			 North and North East London 59 80 154 329 329 581 559 908 272 509 3,780 
			 South London 114 121 188 278 398 375 741 507 532 495 3,749 
			 West London 31 64 80 230 213 538 544 508 241 648 3,097 
			 
			  North East 211 252 169 457 479 875 1,745 1,761 1,095 1,347 8,391 
			 Northumbria 43 55 65 118 122 303 600 769 388 437 2,900 
			 South Tyne and Wear Valley 151 145 64 251 227 197 623 573 388 517 3,136 
			 Tees Valley 17 52 40 88 130 375 522 419 319 393 2,355 
			 
			  North West 434 262 526 736 978 1,383 2,707 2,331 1,333 2,556 13,246 
			 Cheshire Halton and Warrington 5 18 31 62 29 97 262 155 88 150 897 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 52 72 170 161 259 379 656 677 334 830 3,590 
			 Greater Manchester Central 20 55 126 202 252 380 361 341 210 438 2,385 
			 Greater Manchester East and West 16 83 104 156 251 337 622 550 364 460 2,943 
			 Merseyside 341 34 92 154 193 190 806 608 337 678 3,433 
			 
			  Scotland 725 1,225 1,247 1,274 1,463 1,570 1,987 1,737 896 1,620 13,744 
			 Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Inverclyde 112 165 213 205 205 295 435 355 169 258 2,412 
			 Edinburgh and Lothian and Borders 45 111 157 108 246 232 289 197 104 133 1,622 
			 Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside 198 210 227 213 201 245 278 202 112 234 2,120 
			 Glasgow 112 201 202 254 265 298 382 462 242 522 2,940 
			 Highlands, Islands, Clyde Coast and Grampian 208 365 301 303 354 330 333 287 156 264 2,901 
			 Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire 50 173 147 191 192 170 270 234 113 209 1,749 
			 
			  South East 69 144 163 427 552 726 1,388 1,492 966 1,105 7,032 
			 Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire 3 21 25 50 234 125 152 268 266 192 1,336 
			 Hampshire 29 72 69 130 80 141 370 391 206 348 1,836 
			 Kent 25 30 31 138 101 221 388 410 179 261 1,784 
			 Surrey and Sussex 12 21 38 109 137 239 478 423 315 304| 2,076 
			 
			  South West 50 139 223 338 418 717 1,332 1,313 810 1,148 6,488 
			 Devon and Cornwall 20 70 159 155 227 279 433 427 292 306 2,368 
			 Dorset and Somerset 8 15 18 76 71 144 349 302 199 212 1,394 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon 5 15 18 40 62 99 182 237 180 275 1,113 
			 West of England 17 37 28 67 58 195 368 347 139 355 1,611 
			 
			  Wales 220 220 249 626 692 820 1,511 1,113 709 884 7,044 
			 North and Mid Wales 44 77 55 102 173 185 198 222 244 201 1,501 
			 South East Wales 14 49 51 137 133 239 503 229 89 180 1,624 
			 South Wales Valleys 112 70 110 265 171 201 507 383 214 290 2,323 
			 South West Wales 50 24 33 122 215 195 303 279 162 213 1,596 
			 
			  West Midlands 131 407 413 882 1,205 1,598 2,371 1,991 1,107 1,409 11,514 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 34 208 96 220 381 545 802 740 510 541 4,077 
			 Black Country 40 94 149 263 343 404 625 463 202 288 2,871 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire 17 34 34 126 207 178 178 208 79 141 1,202 
			 Staffordshire 15 27 86 171 151 296 505 425 183 269 2,128 
			 The Marches 25 44 48 102 123 175 261 155 133 170 1,236 
			 
			  Yorks  and  Humber 92 112 494 1,055 920 1,204 1,934 1,139 1,278 1,189 9,417 
			 North and East Yorkshire and the Humber 8 21 146 413 319 463 470 479 200 266 2,785 
			 South Yorkshire 71 65 118 367 257 309 671 287 866 608 3,619 
			 West Yorkshire 13 26 230 275 344 432 793 373 212 315 3,013 
			 
			  Contact Centres( 2)   3,546 
			 
			 Totals for 2008-09   112,894 
			 (1 )Jobcentre Plus has a contact centre network enabling jobseekers to apply for job vacancies by telephone. This is a virtual network, covering the whole of Great Britain. LEP job outcomes achieved as a result of contact centre activity are not attributed to individual districts.  Note: LEP job outcomes are defined as those job outcomes achieved for eligible customers with employers who have agreed to work with Jobcentre Plus and its partners through a Local Employment Partnership. Eligible customers include lone parents; people with disabilities; those who have been unemployed for six months or more; and other jobless people who face relative labour market disadvantage.  Source:  Local Employment Partnership MI System.

Employment: Disabled People

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms his Department have put in place to ensure that regional contracting arrangements of the Improving Disability Employment Advisory Service programme will work in conjunction with local initiatives.

Jonathan R Shaw: As set out in the White Paper, 'Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future', new specialist disability employment provision will be introduced in 2010. Local stakeholders have been involved in the development of requirements and we will expect bidders to demonstrate how they have taken account of any relevant local initiatives. We will continue to engage with local stakeholders as appropriate throughout the contracting process.

Employment: Disabled People

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether  (a) employment and support allowance and  (b) jobseekers' allowance claimants who have been referred to the Improving Disability Employment Advisory Service programme will be expected to attend regular meetings with their Pathways to Work, Jobcentre Plus and Flexible New Deal provider;
	(2)  whether mandatory activity under  (a) the employment and support allowance and  (b) jobseekers' allowance will take precedence over the Improving Disability Employment Advisory Service (IDEAS) programme; and whether participation in the IDEAS programme will count as work-related activity.

Jonathan R Shaw: Employment and support allowance and jobseekers allowance claimants who have volunteered to participate in the new specialist disability employment programme will be expected to continue to satisfy the conditions under which they receive these allowances, including attending regular meetings with their Personal Adviser as appropriate.
	If the Work Focussed Interview clashes with an Improving Disability Employment Advisory Service session, the adviser may decide to defer the Work Focussed Interview to enable the customer to undertake their work-related activity. This decision should be made by the adviser following discussion between the adviser and customer.

Housing Benefit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of housing benefit was paid directly to landlords in each of the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: This information is not currently available.

Jobcentre Plus

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal notifications of redundancies were received by Jobcentre Plus from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in  (a) each region and  (b) the London borough of Sutton in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many formal notifications of redundancies were received by Jobcentre Plus from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in (a) each region and (b) the London Borough of Sutton. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Employers have a statutory responsibility to notify the Insolvency Service, part of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, when they propose to make 20 or more people redundant at one establishment within a period of 90 or fewer days. Those notifications are made by organisations to the Insolvency Service using form HR1. The Insolvency Service does not send these formal notifications of redundancies to Jobcentre Plus so therefore we are not able to provide you with the information you have requested.
	It is important to note that each Jobcentre Plus region uses a range of information to identify employers who are making, or considering, redundancies. One of these sources is headline information provided by the Insolvency Service concerning employers. Our objective is to ensure that the support of our Rapid Response Service is offered whenever it might be appropriate for the employer and employees concerned.
	We launched our enhanced Rapid Response Service on 12 November 2008. Since then, over 1,000 employers have accepted offers of Rapid Response Service support.

Jobcentre Plus: Rural Areas

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effects of recent Jobcentre Plus closures on the accessibility of Jobcentre Plus branches for people living in rural areas.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what recent assessment he has made of the effects of recent Jobcentre Plus closures on the accessibility of Jobcentre Plus branches for people living in rural areas. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus inherited around 1,500 offices from the merger of the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service in 2002. We have modernised our Jobcentre network to improve customer service, rationalising our estate to provide excellent coverage with integrated customer facing offices, at the same time reducing cost to the tax payer. We remain the largest office network in Government with 741 modern Jobcentres. These offices are supported by 31 modern contact centres and 79 main benefit processing centres.
	In planning our Jobcentre network the Jobcentre Plus Customer Service Directors regularly review their service delivery plans to ensure optimum provision of service for all customers. They will take into account the network's accessibility, including time taken to travel from rural areas. Where appropriate, we will deliver out reach services, for instance, aimed at lone parents and others who may find travel difficult.
	The great majority of our services (in common with most large, modern organisations) are now also delivered through the telephone and internet. For example, to give customers more convenient access, we have more than half a million vacancies on-line at any time (our website receives close to one million job searches every working day), and new claims to benefit are predominantly taken by telephone. Our customer facing services have been brought together in a more coherent and integrated network and I believe Jobcentre Plus is well-placed to respond to the needs of our customers wherever they live.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants and  (b) JSA claimants with children have been subject to benefit sanctions in each quarter since the beginning of 2007.

Tony McNulty: The information for all JSA claimants is not available broken down in each quarter. The information is available for each month and is provided in the following table. Information on JSA claimants with children subject to sanctions is not collated centrally, either quarterly or monthly, and is therefore available only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Total number of jobseeker's allowance claimants who have been subject to benefit sanctions 
			   Varied length  Fixed length  Entitlement decision 
			  2007
			 January 5,900 3,860 17,220 
			 February 5,610 3,870 16,810 
			 March 5,720 4,410 19,350 
			 April 4,540 3,830 16,850 
			 May 5,090 4,090 17,730 
			 June 4,730 4,020 19,070 
			 July 5,150 4,140 20,080 
			 August 5,640 4,400 20,070 
			 September 5,080 3,660 17,090 
			 October 5,850 4,060 19,480 
			 November 6,040 4,000 19,840 
			 December 4,520 2,990 11,110 
			 
			  2008
			 January 6,520 3,960 18,750 
			 February 5,990 4,210 19,990 
			 March 5,390 3,640 16,730 
			 April 6,080 4,100 19,820 
			 May 6,110 3,910 19,550 
			 June 5,910 4,160 20,630 
			 July 6,570 4,380 22,150 
			 August 5,580 3,720 19,370 
			 September 6,220 4,370 21,380 
			 October 6,580 4,380 22,530 
			  Notes: 1. The figures above are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The numbers above are the number of referrals that had an adverse decision in each month. 3. Varied length sanctions are where the JSA claimant has their payment temporarily suspended for anything up to 26 weeks. 4. Fixed length sanctions are where the JSA claimant has their payment temporarily suspended for either 2, 4 or 26 weeks. 5. Entitlement decisions are where the JSA claimant has their entitlement to JSA ended. 6. This information is published at the DWP website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp  Source: DWP Information Directorate: JSA sanctions and disallowance decisions statistics database.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claiming jobseeker's allowance in each local authority area had been claiming it for a period of  (a) up to three months,  (b) between three and six months,  (c) between six and 12 months,  (d) between 12 and 24 months and  (e) more than 24 months in each month since September 2008.

Tony McNulty: The information has been placed in the Library.

Local Housing Allowance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of local housing allowance in the private rented sector have their benefits paid directly to landlords under  (a) the eight week rent arrears procedures and  (b) local authority determined vulnerability criteria.

Kitty Ussher: This information is not currently available.

Local Housing Allowance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what expenditure his Department has incurred on the local housing allowance scheme since it was introduced.

Kitty Ussher: This information is not currently available.

Local Housing Allowance

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each region have received local housing allowance in each of the last three years.

Kitty Ussher: This information is not currently available.

Local Housing Allowance

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much housing benefit has been paid out by local authorities in each region under  (a) local reference rents and  (b) local housing allowance in each of the last four years;
	(2)  what proportion of the funds distributed by local authorities in each region as  (a) local reference rents and  (b) local housing allowance in each of the last four years was paid in respect of accommodation in the private rented sector.

Kitty Ussher: Not all of the information requested is available. Such information as is available is presented in the table.
	The local housing allowance did not commence national roll-out until April 2008 and outturn expenditure data for 2008-09 is not yet available. We do have expenditure data on local housing allowance in the local authorities which piloted the scheme prior to national roll-out and this is presented in the following table. There were nine pilot authorities in 2004-05, and 18 from 2005-06. There are some differences between the model of local housing allowance that was piloted and the model that was rolled out in April 2008.
	
		
			  Regional local housing allowance expenditure in pilot areas 
			   million 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 North East 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 27 51 61 68 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 34 61 65 70 
			 East Midlands 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 14 23 28 32 
			 East of England 0 7 10 11 
			 London 24 66 79 96 
			 South East 54 60 66 69 
			 South West 6 9 11 11 
			 Wales 6 14 16 17 
			 Scotland 35 39 43 47 
			 Great Britain 199 332 379 422 
			  Note: Figures may not sum due to rounding.  Source: Local authority subsidy claims 
		
	
	Expenditure on cases assessed under the local reference rent currently cannot be separately identified.
	All of the expenditure on local housing allowance is for housing in the private rented sector.
	Almost all of the expenditure on cases assessed under the local reference rent is for housing in the private sector. Further estimates of expenditure on housing benefit for private rented accommodation are available on the Department's website at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/HBandCTB_expenditure.asp

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what rate of interest his Department used in calculations of entitlements and payments under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme in each of the last 12 months; and what rate it plans to use in each of the next three months.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) on 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1614, and to the written answers given to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 456-57W.
	Help is provided towards the interest on mortgages (known as Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)) as part of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, and state pension credit.
	SMI is calculated using a standard interest rate. The following standard rates were used in the calculation of SMI over the period requested:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 From 16 March 2008 6.83 
			 From 15 May 2008 6.58 
			 From 16 November 2008 6.08 
		
	
	On 24 November 2008 the Chancellor announced that the standard interest rate would be maintained at 6.08 per cent. for six months.
	We will publicise any further changes to the interest rate in due course.

Poverty: Children

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness in reducing child poverty of the measures introduced in the 2008 Budget.

Kitty Ussher: Budget 2008 committed an additional 950 million to tackling child poverty by 2010-11. It included a number of measures that will make significant progress to further reducing child poverty, including increasing the first child rate of child benefit to 20 a week from April 2009 (brought forward to January 2009 in the 2008 pre-Budget report), disregarding child benefit in calculating income for housing and council taxi benefit from October 2009 and increasing the child element of the child tax credit by 50 a year above indexation from April 2009.
	Taken together, measures announced since Budget 2007 will lift around a further 500,000 children out of poverty.
	Budget 2008 also included introducing child poverty pilots to draw on new ideas to tackle child poverty over the long-term. A suite of nine pilots are in various stages of set-up or early delivery, and interim evidence is expected in early 2010.

Social Security Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average number of days taken to process new  (a) council tax benefit and  (b) housing benefit claims was in each local authority area in each month of the last two years;
	(2)  how many outstanding  (a) council tax benefit and  (b) housing benefit claims there were in each local authority area in each quarter of the last two years.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1419W.

Vacancies: Cleveland

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were advertised in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland job centre in each month of 2008; and for what average length of time each job was advertised.

Tony McNulty: The information is in the table, and provides separate data for unfilled and notified vacancies to give the fullest picture of the number of Jobcentre Plus vacancies in any particular constituency. The labour market is dynamic and many new vacancies are filled so quickly they do not appear in the statistics for live unfilled vacancies, which are based on a snapshot of the vacancies available on a particular day.
	The coverage of these figures relates only to Jobcentre Plus notified and unfilled vacancies. Many vacancies come up through other recruitment channels and the proportion accounted for by Jobcentre Plus is likely to vary over time, according to the occupation of the vacancy and industry of the employer, and by local area. Estimates of the number of unfilled job vacancies across the economy as a whole are available from the monthly ONS Vacancy Survey, based on a sample of some 6,000 enterprises. However, the ONS survey is currently designed to provide national estimates only.
	In addition, it should be noted that parliamentary constituencies are often a poor match to the area covered by the local labour market. The number and range of jobs available to people within normal travel to work distances often extends well beyond immediate constituency boundaries.
	
		
			  T otal number of job vacancies advertised in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency 
			  Date  Notified vacancies live  Unfilled vacancies  Median duration 
			 January 2008 86 82 41.0 
			 February 2008 449 189 19.3 
			 March 2008 185 132 36.9 
			 April 2008 183 152 40.4 
			 May 2008 233 140 33.7 
			 June 2008 339 203 26.4 
			 July 2008 189 170 36.3 
			 August 2008 223 152 34.9 
			 September 2008 203 140 25.8 
			 October 2008 181 100 27.0 
			 November 2008 288 124 25.3 
			 December 2008 166 100 27.2 
			  Notes: 1. Data are unrounded. 2. Changes to Jobcentre Plus vacancy handling procedures have led to a major discontinuity in the vacancy statistics pre and post May 2006. Consequently, care should be taken in interpreting time-series data. 3. Notified vacancies. Monthly data on the inflow of newly notified vacancies to Jobcentre Plus. 4. The stocks of Live unfilled vacancies reflect more accurately job opportunities available via Jobcentre Plus. In the case of unfilled vacancies, use of the figures on live vacancies is recommended (i.e. excluding suspended vacancies), and this is the default option. Live vacancies may still include some vacancies which have already been filled or are otherwise no longer open. 5. To provide a geographic breakdown, in most cases the postcode of the vacancy is used to allocate the vacancy to a local area. Where this is missing or invalid, the employers' postcode or the postcode of the local Jobcentre Plus office is used. 6. These figures are published at www.nomisweb.co.uk 7. The median duration is measured in days between notification and closure. 8. For most purposes, the median will give a more representative measure of the average duration a mean figure tends to be distorted by a small number of vacancies that have very long durations.  Source: Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System

Vocational Training

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many drug users have secured paid employment through progress2work; how many have maintained this employment for six months or more; and how many have claimed benefits again within  (a) six months and  (b) 12 months;
	(2)  how many drug users have secured unpaid employment through progress2work; and how many have maintained this employment for six months or more.

Tony McNulty: In 2007-08, 12,850 people joined progress2work, and 2,700 went on to find work. 1,450 were still recorded as being in work after 13 weeks. We do not record how many are still in work at six months or how many return to benefit after a period of employment.
	Details of voluntary work undertaken by customers during the progress2work programme and subsequent to participation are not recorded.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on cold weather payments in 2008-09.

Kitty Ussher: The information for the whole of 2008-09 is not yet available.
	A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0 C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode.
	Based on the temperature criterion having been met up to 12 March 2009, the estimated expenditure will be 209 million.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of carbon dioxide emissions arising in the UK attributable to burning  (a) coal and ( b) gas in each year since 1990.

Mike O'Brien: Estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use in the UK were published by DECC on 26 March 2009. These estimates can be found at
	http://www.berr-gov.uk/files/file50484.xls
	The following table shows the breakdown of these estimates by fuel type for the years 1990 to 2007, together with provisional estimates for 2008.
	
		
			  CO2 emissions by fuel 
			  Million tonnes of carbon dioxide 
			   1990  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999 
			 Gas 110.1 118.5 119.5 134.6 144.4 152.9 177.7 181.9 188.9 202.2 
			 Oil 209.5 209.6 208.0 208.5 204.0 199.0 203.5 195.6 191.9 187.3 
			 Coal and other solid fuels 250.6 250.9 235.0 205.1 192.4 178.2 170.4 152.1 151.5 134.0 
			 Non-fuel 22.8 21.2 20.5 19.8 21.2 23.1 23.7 21.9 21.3 19.5 
			
			 Total 592.9 600.2 583.0 568 .0 561 .9 553 .1 575 .3 551 .6 553 .6 543 .0 
		
	
	
		
			  Million tonnes of carbon dioxide 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008p 
			 Gas 207.2 207.5 205.1 206.2 209.3 202.6 191.0 194.1 199.0 
			 Oil 184.5 186.5 183.7 183.2 186.1 189.5 186.9 184.8 180.1 
			 Coal and other solid fuels 140.8 150.4 138.9 149.8 144.2 144.3 156.9 147.0 135.9 
			 Non-fuel 18.6 18.1 17.2 17.1 16.3 16.7 16.2 16.7 16.7 
			   
			 Total 551 .1 562 .5 544 .9 556 .2 555. 9 553.2 551. 1 542. 6 531.8

Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards meeting the target of reducing Government estate carbon dioxide emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000 levels.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Government are committed to achieving a reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions from its estate of 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11. Progress against this target is reported annually in the Sustainable Development in Government report. The latest assessment of performance, published in December 2008, shows that Government had made a reduction of 6.3 per cent. by 2007-08, an improvement of 2 per cent. from the previous year. The Government delivery plan for sustainable operations and procurement shows that Government have plans in place to achieve the further reductions required by 2010-11.

Carbon Emissions: Canada

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will hold discussions with his Canadian federal and provincial counterparts on the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the extraction of oil from the tar sands in Alberta, Canada.

Joan Ruddock: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be discussing how to limit global carbon dioxide emissions to prevent damaging climate change with all key international partners this year, including Canadian counterparts, given the importance the UK places on securing a global deal at Copenhagen in December.
	The UK appreciates that every country's position and needs are different, which is why we support the principle of 'common but differentiated' responsibilitiesbut we nevertheless will be urging all partners to take as much action as they are able to address the threat of damaging climate change.
	The Federal Government have drafted legislation to introduce targets based on carbon capture and storage (CCS) on oil sands facilities and electricity power stations, which states that new plants from 2012 must be capture ready and using full CCS from 2018. In December 2008 Canada and the UK signed a Joint Statement on CCS, agreeing to work closely to develop and promote CCS technologies. This will involve exchanging experience and information on the development of regulatory frameworks, mechanisms for deploying CCS projects in developed and developing countries and the demonstration of key elements of the CCS chain. We will also share the learning developed from our respective commercial-scale demonstration projects.

Coal Fired Power Stations

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on preparations for a public consultation on a UN framework for coal-fired power stations; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 24 March 2009
	The proposals on a new framework for coal-fired power stations will go beyond the proposals in last year's consultation on carbon capture readiness. It is too early to go into further details.

Coal: Pollution Control

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 294-5W, on coal: pollution control, on what date his Department committed 2.2 million to an oxy-fuel combustion carbon capture and storage project; how much has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Doosan Babcock Energy Ltd was sent an Offer Letter Contract on 1 November 2007 by the then Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform stating an agreement to provide grant funding of some 2.2 million towards the development of an Oxy-fuel combustion project. 301,374.60 of that grant has been spent to date.

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the work of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.

Mike O'Brien: During 2009 CoRWM is expected to deliver three reports to Sponsoring Ministers covering interim storage arrangements, research and development and the geological disposal process more generally; in each case setting out the Committee's recommendations on these issues. These reports and responses from Government will be made available in respective Parliaments/Assemblies. We will assess these reports and recommendations when we receive them.
	Under its terms of reference, CoRWM is required to agree with its Sponsoring Ministers (Department of Energy and Climate Change and the devolved administrations) a three-year rolling programme and budget for its work on an annual basis. The Committee is also required to submit an annual report to Ministers by 30 April each year on the delivery of the agreed work programme.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average daily consumption of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas of each of the buildings occupied by staff of his Department is.

Mike O'Brien: The average daily consumption of DECC's London headquarters in 3 Whitehall Place is 5685 kWh of electricity and 2805 kWh of gas. The average daily consumption of DECC's offices in Atholl House, Aberdeen, is estimated as 377 kWh of electricity and 439 kWh of gas.

Departmental Internet

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the cost to his Department of the Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment website.

Mike O'Brien: The cost of the strategic environmental assessment website for the current financial year totals 18,135.00 excluding VAT.

Departmental Public Appointments

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which of the public appointments for which his Department is responsible are due to be  (a) renewed and  (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restriction, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records his Department keeps in respect of such appointments.

Mike O'Brien: Information on appointments made by the Department will be published in its annual report which will be available on its website in due course. Vacancies may be advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at:
	www.publicappointments.gov.uk
	The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication Making and Managing Public Appointments. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which former  (a) hon. Members who left Parliament since 1997 and  (b) Members of the House of Lords from each party have been appointed to positions on public bodies within his Department's responsibility; and who made each appointment.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 27 March 2009
	 None.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what  (a) capital funds and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change brought forward 50 million of capital expenditure on the Warm Front programme from 2010-11 into 2009-10 and received additional funding of 50 million for 2008-09 and 50 million for 2009-10, also on the Warm Front programme, as announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report. No resource funds have been brought forward.

Electricity Generation: Licensing

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much revenue from licence fees was received by Ofgem in each of the last 10-years.

Mike O'Brien: Ofgem was established in 1999. The following table shows the total revenue received by Ofgem from licence fees during the years audited to date:
	
		
			   Total Ofgem revenue ( million) 
			 1999-2000 47.510 
			 2000-01 45.146 
			 2001-02 32.865 
			 2002-03 33.197 
			 2003-04 32.660 
			 2004-05 32.102 
			 2005-06 31.911 
			 2006-07 34.783 
			 2007-08 34.700

Electricity Supply: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was collected in  (a) transmission use of systems and  (b) distribution use of systems charges in each public electricity supplier area in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: According to National Grid the following amounts were collected in transmission use of system charges (the revenues for 2004-05 were for England and Wales only).
	
		
			million 
			 2004-05 862 
			 2005-06 l,054 
			 2006-07 1,153 
			 2007-08 l,243 
			 2008-09 1,355 
		
	
	The following table shows the distribution use of system charges by distribution network operator area.
	
		
			   million 
			  DNO  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Central Networks West plc (CN West) 266.0 264.8 246.7 277.7 278.1 1333.3 
			 Central Networks East plc (CN East) 276.3 274.4 255.5 274.3 287.9 1368.4 
			 Northern Electric Distribution Ltd (CE NEDL) 178.7 159.7 170.8 170.0 186.7 865.8 
			 Yorkshire Electricity Distribution plc (CE YEDL) 226.8 229.8 230.1 234.5 257.8 1179.0 
			 EDF Energy Networks (LPN) plc (EDFE LPN) 230.7 240.3 241.8 264.7 278.8 1256.2 
			 EDF Energy Networks (SPN) plc (EDFE SPN) 174.3 165.4 174.8 186.7 201.9 903.1 
			 EDF Energy Networks (EPN) plc (EDFE EPN) 329.8 316.2 316.3 336.3 384.6 1683.2 
			 Electricity North West Ltd (ENW) 235.5 222.6 234.6 254.9 282.9 1230.5 
			 Scottish Hydro-Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD) 122.5 132.4 144.9 150.3 163.5 713.6 
			 Southern Electric Power Distribution plc (SEPD) 324.2 321.8 364.5 372.0 392.8 1775.3 
			 SP Distribution Ltd (SPD) 278.6 278.2 323.1 320.5 319.5 1520.0 
			 SP Manweb plc (SPM) 171.0 186.3 212.2 206.9 182.8 959.2 
			 Western Power Distribution (South West) plc (WPD S West) 186.0 183.6 199.56 197.13 220.5 986.8 
			 Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc (WPD S Wales) 141.8 141.4 161.37 160.11 163.97 768.7 
			 Totals 3142.2 3116.9 3276.2 3405.9 3601.6 16542.9

Electricity: Government Departments

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of electricity supplied to the Government Estate was drawn from combined heat and power sources classified as being of good quality in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) monitors progress towards the target of Government Departments sourcing at least 15 per cent. of electricity from Combined Heat and Power (CHP) by 31 March 2010. Data available on the SDC website cover only the two years 2006-07 and 2007-08. These show that the proportion increased from 5.8 per cent. in 2006-07 to 8.7 per cent. in 2007-08. These percentages cover all CHP and not just that proportion certified as good quality.

Energy

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings he and his officials had with representatives of  (a) the nuclear energy and nuclear waste industry,  (b) the combined heat and power industry and  (c) the renewable energy industry between January 2007 and October 2008.

Mike O'Brien: Ministers and officials have regular meetings in the course of business with representatives of the nuclear energy and nuclear waste industry, the combined heat and power industry, and the renewable energy industry.
	The Government are committed to the development of low carbon energy which will reduce our carbon emissions, improve our energy security, and improve our efficiency in the use of fossil fuels. We are now the second most attractive market in the world for investment in nuclear power and we are committed to sourcing 15 per cent. of our energyup to a third of our electricity and significant percentages of our heating and transportationfrom renewable fuels by 2020.

Energy Supply

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of UK energy demand was met by energy generated within the UK in each year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The following table shows electricity generated by UK generators, total UK demand for electricity and total UK demand for energy for each year since 1998 as well as the percentages of energy and electricity demand.
	
		
			   GWh  Percentage 
			   Electricity generated  UK electricity demand  UK energy consumption  Electricity generation as a proportion of electricity demand  Electricity generation as a proportion of energy demand 
			 1998 362,702 375,170 2,207,176 96.7 16.4 
			 1999 368,152 382,396 2,206,746 96.3 16.7 
			 2000 377,068 391,243 2,235,274 96.4 16.9 
			 2001 384,786 395,185 2,231,041 97.4 17.2 
			 2002 387,246 395,661 2,194,732 97.9 17.6 
			 2003 398,209 400,369 2,215,015 99.5 18.0 
			 2004 393,868 401,357 2,237,275 98.1 17.6 
			 2005 398,313 406,633 2,243,997 98.0 17.8 
			 2006 398,824 406,341 2,195,988 98.2 18.2 
			 2007 396,456 401,671 2,121,673 98.7 18.7 
			  Note: Energy consumption in this table is final consumption plus energy industry use plus losses.  Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2008, Tables 1.1 and 5.2.

Energy: Prices

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  which energy suppliers have adopted Ofgem's voluntary guidelines to offer a social tariff as favourable as their lowest priced tariff offered to customers in that area;
	(2)  how many households are on each of the  (a) discounted tariffs and  (b) social tariffs recognised by Ofgem offered by each supplier; and what proportion of each supplier's customers each figure represents;
	(3)  what percentage of turnover each energy supplier is contributing to  (a) social assistance programmes and  (b) social tariffs recognised by Ofgem.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The big six major energy suppliers all offer social tariffs. Ofgem monitors the suppliers' social programmes on behalf of Government. In its latest report published in December 2008 for the period 2007-08, Ofgem confirmed that SSE, ScottishPower and E.ON had social tariffs in place that were consistent with the revised definition of a social tariff and that the rest of the suppliers were considering their position. A copy of the report can be found at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documentsl/Monitoring%20Suppliers%20Socia1%20Spend%20171.08.pdf
	Ofgem will report formally on the suppliers' social programmes in the summer. The report will include information on whether existing social tariffs and any other new versions that have been introduced by the suppliers since its last report are or continue to be consistent with the revised definition of a social tariff.
	In the same report, Ofgem gave the latest data on discounted and social tariffs for 2007-08. The number of customer accounts on social tariffs per supplier, using Ofgem's definition at that time, that a social tariff had to be as good as the supplier's standard direct debit tariff, was:
	
		
			  Supplier  Tariff name  Total customers accounts 
			 British Gas Essentials (Electricity) 113,584 
			  Essentials (Gas) 200,845 
			 Total  314,429 
			
			 EDF Energy Energy Assist (Electricity) 46,130 
			  Energy Assist (Gas) 15,742 
			 Total  61,872 
			
			 E.ON Social StayWarm (Electricity) 26,833 
			  Social StayWarm (Gas) 25,495 
			 Total  52,328 
			
			 npower First Step (Electricity) 2,108 
			  First Step (Gas) 1,398 
			 Total  3,506 
			
			 Scottish Power(1)   
			 SSE EnergyPlus Care (Electricity) 15,282 
			  EnergyPlus Care (Gas) 11,077 
			 Total  26,359 
			
			 Total Electricity 203,937 
			  Gas 254,557 
			  Total customer accounts 458,494 
			 (1) Social tariff launched on 1 April 2008. 
		
	
	The latest available data on the total number of domestic customer accounts was reported by Ofgem in their Domestic Retail Market Report published in June 2007:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/Compet/Documentsl/DRMR%20March%202007doc%20v9%20-%20FINAL.pdf
	It reported that there were 21,567,261 gas and 26,917,561 electricity customer accounts, as at March 2006. Information on the number of each supplier's customer accounts is commercially sensitive and remains confidential between the Department and each energy supplier. Therefore information on what proportion of each supplier's customers' benefit from a social tariff cannot be made available.
	Ofgem also reported that during 2007-08, British Gas and SSE were the only companies offering other discounted tariffs at a cost of 2.19 million and 138,000 respectively. Information on the number of customer accounts benefiting from these tariffs is not available.
	Expenditure on social programmes and social tariffs during the same period was:
	
		
			   million 
			  Supplier  Total spend on social programmes  Spend on social tariffs 
			 British Gas 27.31 17.59 
			 EDF Energy 7.37 4.25 
			 E.ON 13.23 10.5 
			 npower 3.95 0.23 
			 Scottish Power 2.32 (1) 
			 SSE 2.93 1.3 
			 Total 57.12 33.87 
			 (1) Social tariff launched on 1 April 2008. 
		
	
	Information on what percentage of each supplier's turnover is spent on social programmes and social tariffs is not held by this Department or Ofgem.

Kingsnorth Power Station

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1805W, on Kingsnorth power station, what timetable has been set for  (a) publication of the consultation document and  (b) completion of the consultation process in respect of a new framework for coal-fired power stations.

Mike O'Brien: The timetable for publication of a planned new consultation on a new framework for coal fired power stations has not yet been set.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the Minister of State will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 4 November 2008 and re-faxed to the Minister's office on 5 February 2009, on Flogas.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 20 March 2009
	I responded to the hon. Member on 26 March 2009.

Natural Gas

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on the potential costs and benefits of a public service obligation on utilities in respect of gas storage.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 26 March 2009
	DECC has received a number of representations in recent months regarding the need for additional gas storage in the UK, however we are not aware of any specific representations regarding public service obligations.

Natural Gas: Prices

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Romford of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 305W, on natural gas: prices, if he will publish the data on  (a) spot and  (b) future wholesale gas prices collected during 2008.

Mike O'Brien: The UK System Average Price is freely available on National Grid's webpage. Forward wholesale price data for the UK and other European gas hubs, which are sourced from proprietary information providers, cannot be published under the terms of the licence agreements.
	Data for US Henry Hub gas prices is available on a number of websites, including:
	http://www.barchart.com/
	DECC also produces assumptions for future trends in fossil fuel wholesale prices (including gas) up to 2030 which are used for modelling and other analytical work. This information is available on the following website:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46071.pdf

Natural Gas: Prices

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Romford of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 305W, on natural gas: prices, how many staff his Department employs to gather data on  (a) spot and  (b) future wholesale gas prices.

Mike O'Brien: One official is directly responsible, among other things, for collecting and compiling data on spot and forward UK, European and US gas prices.
	A team of four DECC energy market economists is also responsible, among other things, for the production of the Department's assumptions for future trends in fossil fuel wholesale prices (including gas), in consultation with other DECC colleagues.

Natural Gas: Storage

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the gas storage capacity of the UK was in each of the last 10-years.

Mike O'Brien: The following table gives the working capacity of UK gas storage facilities at the start of October in each of the last 10-years.
	
		
			   Capacity (billion cubic metres) 
			 1999 3.5 
			 2000 3.6 
			 2001 3.7 
			 2002 3.7 
			 2003 4.0 
			 2004 4.0 
			 2005 4.2 
			 2006 4.3 
			 2007 4.3 
			 2008 4.4 
			  Source: National Grid

Natural Gas: Storage

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what gas storage facilities he expects to become operational in each of the next 10 years; and what the capacity of each is expected to be.

Mike O'Brien: National Grid's Ten Year Statement, published in December 2008, identifies four commercial gas storage projects which are under development and scheduled for completion within the next five years.
	
		
			  Storage under development( 1) 
			  Storage Project  Developer  Location  Space (bcm)  Gas Year 
			 Aldbrough SSE / Statoil E. Yorkshire 0.37 2008-09 
			 Holford E.ON Cheshire 0.16 2010-11 
			 Caythorpe Centrica E. Yorkshire 0.2 2011-12 
			 Stublach GDF Storage Cheshire 0.4 2013-14 
			 Total  ~ 1 bcm 
			 (1) Source National Grid 
		
	
	Another 13 gas storage projects listed in the Ten Year Statement are at various stages of development. They are expected to be completed within the next decade, but do not have definitive dates for when they will become operational.
	More information can be found on the National Grid website:
	http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/TYS/archive/tys08/tys08pdf.htm

Natural Gas: Storage

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what obligations there are on gas supply companies to provide gas storage facilities.

Mike O'Brien: While there is no requirement on gas supply companies to provide gas storage facilities as such, licensed gas shippers (many of which are also suppliers) must balance the amount of gas that they take off the system with the amount that they put into it every 24 hours and face significant financial penalties for any imbalance.
	Gas storage is one of the important tools available to gas shippers to achieve this daily balance. Other tools include supply flows from the North sea, pipeline imports or LNG as well as demand side arrangements where customers opt to reduce their gas consumption as prices increase.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Public Appointments

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what the reasons are for the time taken by the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to expedite the appointment of a permanent Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority;
	(3)  how many candidates have been interviewed as part of the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority;
	(4)  whether a shortlist of candidates has been drawn up as part of the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority;
	(5)  what the cost has been of the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority;
	(6)  when he expects a permanent Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to take up the appointment.

Mike O'Brien: The process to recruit a new Chief Executive for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which is the responsibility of the NDA Board under the Energy Act 2004, is ongoing and the NDA hopes to conclude the process in the near future. Inquiries about the detail of the process should be directed to the NDA.

Nuclear Liabilities Fund

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what the  (a) final severance package and  (b) pension arrangements were for the previous Chief Executive of the Nuclear Liabilities Fund;
	(2)  what the annual salary of the Chief Executive of the Nuclear Liabilities Fund was in each of the last 10-years.

Mike O'Brien: The Nuclear Liabilities Fund does not have a chief executive. The directors are the sole representatives of the organisation. The published accounts of the fund are available from its registered offices at 16 Rothesay Place, Edinburgh EH3 7SQ.

Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate of the cost of decommissioning the Hunterston A nuclear power station is; and when the site is expected to become available for alternative use.

Mike O'Brien: The most recent estimate of the cost of decommissioning Hunterston A nuclear power station (667 million discounted) is set out in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's annual report and accounts for 2007-08. The site is not expected to be available for alternative use until after decommissioning is completed, which the NDA currently estimate will be 2080.

Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate of the cost of decommissioning the Chapelcross nuclear power station is; and when the site is expected to become available for alternative use.

Mike O'Brien: The most recent estimate of the cost of decommissioning Chapelcross nuclear power station (775 million discounted) is set out in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's annual report and accounts 2007-08. The site is not expected to be available for alternative use until after decommissioning is completed, which the NDA currently estimate will be 2095.

Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate of the cost of decommissioning Dounreay nuclear power station is; and when the site is expected to become available for alternative use.

Mike O'Brien: The most recent estimate of the cost of decommissioning the Dounreay nuclear site (2,410 million discounted) is set out in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's annual report and accounts 2007-08. It is possible that areas of the site will be available for alternative use following achievement of the interim end state in 2025, subject to appropriate safety and environmental clearance.

Nuclear Trust

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department are engaged in work arising from his Department's interest in the Nuclear Trust.

Mike O'Brien: While a number of staff in my Department, and in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, are engaged in work arising from my Department's interest in the Nuclear Trust, none are engaged on this full-time, and in total the amount of work amounts to less than the equivalent of one full-time post.

Power Stations: EC Action

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects on numbers of power stations of implementation of the EU Large Combustion Plants Directive in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Under the Large Combustion Plants Directive (LCPD) nine 'opted out' coal and oil-fired plants are required to close by the end of 2015, or when they have used up their quota of 20,000 running hours, whichever is sooner. These power stations have a combined capacity of approximately 12 GW (8.0 GW coal and 4 GW oil).
	The rate at which these opted out power stations use their quota of 20,000 running hours is a commercial decision for the management of the affected plants. It is therefore not possible to say exactly when the affected power stations will close.

Public Opinion

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent by  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research since its inception; what such surveys have been commissioned; and what the purpose is of each.

Mike O'Brien: The Department  (a) has spent 8,788 on (ii) focus groups, and a total of 177,161 on (iii) other forms of market research since its inception. (ii) refers to a round of creative development research to test the efficacy of 'DIY' as a key message to encourage home insulation, as part of the Act On CO2 marketing campaign. (iii) accounts for the combined costs of October 2008 to March 2009 costs for our ongoing campaign tracking survey which assesses awareness, understanding and impact on behaviour change. It also accounts for a separate piece of research to assess usability and areas of improvement for the Act On CO2 website.
	This information is not held centrally for agencies or non-departmental public bodies, and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Renewable Energy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 4.5.20 of the UK Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation, what assessment he has made of the likely effects on levels of employment in the fossil fuel sector of the implementation of the proposed measures to increase the relative costs of non-renewable heating.

Mike O'Brien: No estimates have yet been made.

Sellafield: Safety

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of safety procedures at Sellafield.

Mike O'Brien: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the statutory safety regulator for the Sellafield site. With regard to nuclear safety, HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) continually undertakes regular inspections and assessments of safety procedures at Sellafield. These are undertaken by NII to satisfy itself that Sellafield Ltd, the holder of the nuclear site licence, complies with the conditions attached to that licence, as well as more general safety duties.

Sellafield: Security

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Prime Minister's speech on nuclear energy on 17 March 2009, how the 70 million spent on security at Sellafield break down between budget headings since 2003; and what materials will be stored in the proposed storage facility.

Mike O'Brien: Following the events of 9/11 a comprehensive review was carried out on the security and emergency arrangements at the Sellafield site. The outcome of the review was a programme of enhancements, which included projects on: Risk Reduction; for enhanced physical security arrangements for the more sensitive facilities, Risk Mitigation; for enhanced contingency planning, which included the provision of aircraft style Fire Tenders and supporting equipment, and Risk Removal; for the consolidation of material, which entailed the transfer of nuclear material to more robust modern stores.
	The approximate breakdown of the costs associated with these projects is as follows:
	The Risk Reduction projects account for 40 per cent. of the costs;
	The Risk Mitigation projects account for 20 per cent.; and
	The Risk Removal projects account for 40 per cent.
	The storage facility mentioned is the Sellafield Product Residue Store which will be used for the safe and secure storage of plutonium bearing materials and residues.

Solar Power: Research

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding his Department and its predecessor have allocated to research and development of photovoltaic processes as an alternative energy source in each year since 1995; and what use his Department makes of photovoltaic technology.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have allocated the amounts mentioned below to research and development of photovoltaic processes as an alternative energy source since 1997. We do not have the information relating to 1995 and 1996 and the cost to obtain the information would be disproportionate.
	
		
			  Research Councils energy RD expenditure 
			  000 
			   Solar  Photovoltaic 
			 1997-98 1,440 2,255 
			 1998-99 1,286 3,002 
			 1999-2000 1,076 2,760 
			 2000-01 1,134 2,992 
			 2001-02 1,130 3,536 
			 2002-03 1,157 2,770 
			 2003-04 1,453 2,381 
			 2004-05 1,690 2,676 
			 2005-06 1,764 2,531 
			 2006-07 1,473 2,308 
			 2007-08 2,046 6,472 
		
	
	
		
			  DTI/TSB renewable energy RD expenditure 
			   Solar/PV  ( 000 ) 
			 1996-97 1,889 
			 1997-98 1,673 
			 1998-99 1,007 
			 1999-2000 1,283 
			 2000-01 1,266 
			 2001-02 1,522 
			 2002-03 4,485 
			 2003-04 3,131 
			 2004-05 1,970 
			 2005-06 1,782 
			 2006-07 1,128 
			 2007-08 1,352 
		
	
	Responsibility for renewable energy RD was transferred to the Technology Strategy Board in 2007-08.

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the salary of the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: The following table lists the salary paid to the chief executive officers of UKAEA for the last 10 years, as noted in the relevant UKAEA Annual Report and Accounts. Note that the salary for Mr. Harrison in 2006-07 includes his service as Dounreay Director prior to becoming CEO.
	
		
			   CEO  Salary ()  Note 
			 2007-08 Norman Harrison 183,000  
			 2006-07 Norman Harrison 147,878 Transferred from Dounreay 1 September 2006 
			  Dipesh Shah 111,420 Ended 31 august 2006 
			 2005-06 Dipesh Shah 174,963  
			 2004-05 Dipesh Shah 169,160  
			 2003-04 Dipesh Shah 62,333 Appointed 15 November 2003 
			  John McKeown 86,181 Ended 10 November 2003 
			 2002-03 John McKeown 131,674  
			 2001-02 John McKeown 127,828  
			 2000-01 John McKeown 113,332  
			 1999-2000 John McKeown 102,848  
			 1998-99 John McKeown 100,001

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the  (a) final severance package and  (b) pension arrangements were for the previous Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Mike O'Brien: The previous chief executive, Mr Dipesh Shah, resigned from the UKAEA on 31 August 2006.
	 (a) All the arrangements associated with Mr Shah's resignation were included in the UKAEA annual report and accounts 2006-07, either in the figures for his salary (111,420) or his pension as given as follows.
	 (b) The accrued pension and accrued transfer value for Mr Shah at the time of his resignation from the Board were 17,190 and 429,655 respectively. These pension entitlements are unfunded, and are included in the liability for unfunded pension arrangements noted in UKAEA's annual report and accounts. The transfer value does not represent sums paid or payable to Mr Shah, but represents a potential liability of the pension scheme or UKAEA.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what fees have been paid by his Department to liquidators, receivers, administrators and business advisers managing the liquidation of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International since 1991.

Patrick McFadden: The Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform made no payments to liquidators, receivers, administrators and business advisers managing the liquidation of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International since 1991.

Carbon Emissions: Manpower

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his most recent estimate is of the number of people employed in the manufacture of low-carbon products.

Ian Pearson: A recent study by Innovas entitled Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis, which was commissioned by the Department, reported that there were over 881,000 people employed in low carbon and environmental goods and services activities in the UK in 2007-08 (when including activities in the supply chain). Around 30 per cent. (272,000) of these jobs were in manufacturing activities.
	The full report was published on 6 March 2009 and is available at:
	http://wwvv.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/lowcarbon/lowcarbonstrategy/page50105.html

Consumers: Advisory Services

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department has paid in grants to  (a) Citizens Advice and  (b) other independent consumer advice organisations in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Citizens Advice (covering England and Wales) received an annual grant in aid for 2008-09 of 21.47 million. They are also receiving, as a result of the pre-Budget report in November 2008, an extra 2.5 million for the period November 2008 to March 2009.
	Citizens Advice Scotland received an annual grant in aid for 2008-09 of 3.018 million. They are also receiving an extra grant of 371,000 for the same period to help finance CASTLE their electronic case recording system.
	 (b) The only direct grants to other independent consumer advice organisations paid by BERR is money for the Face-to-Face Debt Advice Project. BERR funded 10 projects led by Citizens Advice with 16.8 million, and six non-Citizens Advice led projects with 9.0 million in 2008-09.

Departmental Buildings

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what  (a) grade II,  (b) grade II* and  (c) grade I listed buildings have been owned by his Department since its inception.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 26 March 2009
	This Department does not own any buildings in the categories requested.

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Patrick McFadden: This Department does not own or operate any buildings under a Private Finance Initiative arrangement.

Departmental Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many letters from hon. Members his Department received in  (a) January and  (b) February 2009; and how many letters from hon. Members received in 2008 were responded to (i) in less than two weeks, (ii) in between two weeks and one month, (iii) in between one and two months and (iv) in over two months.

Patrick McFadden: Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members and Peers correspondence. The report for 2008 will be published shortly.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many automobile factories the Secretary of State has visited on official business in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the member for Barrow and Furness visited Morgan, BMW Mini, Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has visited Ford and Nissan.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Patrick McFadden: This Department owns only one building, situated in Edinburgh, which is currently fully occupied. All other buildings are leased.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps have been taken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: This Department has recently undertaken a thermal efficiency survey on our 1 Victoria Street HQ Building and we are currently evaluating the outcome of the report which was received in mid-March 2009. The remaining parts of the HQ estate are not substantial enough to provide sufficient efficiency benefits to merit additional surveys. We shall be taking appropriate action to follow-up on the report in due course.
	I have approached the chief executives of The Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 2288-9W, how many hits each of the websites maintained by his Department received in each of the last 12-months.

Patrick McFadden: In the period March 2008February 2009 page views for the core BERR website:
	(www.berr.gov.uk)
	were:
	
		
			  Date  Page views 
			 March 2008 2,385,231 
			 April 2008 2,443,138 
			 May 2008 2,480,333 
			 June 2008 2,694,709 
			 July 2008 2,840,968 
			 August 2008 2,372,979 
			 September 2008 2,932,840 
			 October 2008 3,648,423 
			 November 2008 3,452,227 
			 December 2008 2,584,510 
			 January 2009 3,770,379 
			 February 2009 3,238,879 
		
	
	Other websites operated by the Department are not centrally managed. Information on visitor numbers for these sites is not centrally held and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Lobbying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether Ministers in his Department received representations from  (a) Lord Moonie,  (b) Lord Taylor of Blackburn,  (c) Lord Snape and  (d) Lord Truscott in the last seven months.

Patrick McFadden: No.

Departmental Lost Property

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether officials in his Department who have lost laptops that were the property of his Department in the last 12 months have been charged the full value of replacement.

Patrick McFadden: It is not this Department's policy to charge its officials for accidental loss of equipment.

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which former  (a) hon. Members who have left Parliament since 1997 and  (b) Members of the House of Lords from each party have been appointed to positions on public bodies within his Department's responsibility; and who made each appointment.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 27 March 2009
	This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration are published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) staff and  (b) ministerial away days were organised by his Department in each of the last five years; and what the cost of such events was in each year.

Patrick McFadden: Information about staff away days is not kept centrally and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	There was a ministerial away day in 2004 and a meeting of Ministers and senior officials in 2006.

Developing Countries: Overseas Companies

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's regulatory regime for corporate social responsibility for British companies operating in developing countries.

Ian Pearson: My Department has not undertaken a recent assessment. However, we expect UK companies operating overseas to abide by national law, to develop their own corporate responsibility policies and follow the relevant UK and international guidelines.

Hindalco Industries

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have had with Hindalco Industries Ltd in the last six months on matters on which Hindalco Industries have been engaged to advise his Department.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer  19 March  2009
	None.

Jaguar Land Rover: Job Creation

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many jobs he expects to be  (a) safeguarded and  (b) created by the 27 million made available to Jaguar Land Rover under the Grant for Business Investment Scheme; and whether his Department has sought undertakings from Jaguar Land Rover on the safeguarding and creation of jobs under the scheme.

Ian Pearson: The support of up to 27 million to be made available to Jaguar Land Rover under the Grant for Business Investment scheme is expected to help safeguard the existing 1,942 jobs at the Halewood facility and create an additional 229 manufacturing jobs, giving a total of 2,171 jobs by 2013. Payments under the scheme are made in instalments, typically over several years as jobs and capital expenditure targets are met. The support of up to 27 million, therefore, will be explicitly linked to the creation and maintenance of jobs at Halewood.

LDV: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what financial assistance his Department has provided to suppliers of the LDV Group.

Ian Pearson: Automotive manufacturers and suppliers with a turnover of at least 25 million recorded in their last published Report and Accounts and with a proposed investment of at least 5 million may in principle be eligible to apply for support under the Automotive Assistance programme. Automotive firms are also eligible for support from other Government programmes and details are available at:
	http://www.realhelpnow.gov.uk/.

Lord Truscott

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what dates  (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials have met Lord Truscott since the latter ceased to be a Government Minister.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 23 February 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Malcolm Wicks), the then Energy Minister, met Lord Truscott once in February 2008.
	Officials met Lord Truscott once in July 2008.

Members: Correspondence

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the right hon. Member for North East Hampshire's letter of 26 November 2007 to the Lord Chancellor, transferred to his Department in December 2007, on his constituent, Miss Mollye Huddleston.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 12 March 2009
	I responded to the right hon. Member on 20 March.

Minimum Wage

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the economic downturn on the staffing requirements of each of the national minimum wage compliance teams.

Patrick McFadden: Worker complaints and case loads for each of the national minimum wage compliance teams are closely and continually monitored. The teams continue to investigate 100 per cent. of cases passed to them and balance this with risk-assessed cases to maximise their enforcement effort. The Government are clear that the downturn should not be an excuse to deny people their basic employment rights including national minimum wage.

Motor Vehicles: Government Assistance

Michael Ancram: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to safeguard UK car manufacturing.

Ian Pearson: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) dated 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 707W.

Motor Vehicles: Small Businesses

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to support small businesses which supply parts to the automotive industry.

Ian Pearson: I wrote to major automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in December 2008 asking them to circulate a tailored note about support to their suppliers. A revised version of the noteincluding details of the Automotive Assistance Programme announced on 27 January and the Enterprise Finance Guaranteewas circulated on 16 March 2009. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Opposition

Charles Hendry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what formal contacts there have been between regional development agencies and each  (a) Shadow Minister and  (b) Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the policy areas where each have lead responsibility in the last six months.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 24 March 2009
	The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) network is divided into a series of 'lead roles' whereby a certain RDA will assume responsibility for the wider network's policy relationship with a particular Government Department. The following list shows formal contacts between RDAs with Shadow Ministers and Liberal Democrat spokesperson in the last six months.
	 East of England Development Agency(lead for Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
	 Conservative
	James Paice
	Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	 South West Development Agency(lead for Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
	 Conservativ e
	Tobias Ellwood
	 Liberal Democrat
	Don Foster

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 528W, on performing arts, what expenditure his Department and its predecessor incurred in engaging  (a) actors,  (b) musicians and  (c) other performers in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) event and (ii) initiative.

Patrick McFadden: This information is not held centrally or readily disaggregated from contracted expenditure with suppliers. It could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Postal Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what meetings  (a) the Secretary of State and  (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) TNT, (ii) DHL, (iii) UPS, (iv) FedEx and (v) the Communication Workers' Union since 3 October 2008.

Patrick McFadden: The Secretary of State has met the CWU on:
	22 October 2008
	19 December 2008
	13 January 2009
	9 February 2009
	and TNT on 9 December 2008 and 30 January 2009.
	I met TNT on 18 March 2009 and the CWU on 22 October 2008, 2 February 2009 and 23 February 2009.
	Shriti Vadera met TNT on 17 March.

Royal Mail

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many postal operators have expressed interest in forming a strategic partnership with Royal Mail to date.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 27 March 2009
	Government have received a number of expressions of interest regarding a partnership with Royal Mail. At this stage of the process only TNT has made their interest public.

Science and Innovation: Expenditure

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1342W, on business: Government assistance, how much was spent by each regional development agency on science and innovation in each year since 1999.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The following table shows expenditure by each RDA on science and innovation since 2001-02. The RDAs retain records of the last seven years. To provide records before this period will incur disproportionate costs.
	The figures are based on the proportion of expenditure that was directly attributable to science or innovation. The increase in spending from 2001-02 to 2002-03 onwards was due to the introduction of the single programme budget, which enabled RDAs to have more flexibility around investment decisions.
	
		
			  RDAs expenditure on science and innovation 
			   million 
			  RDAs  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 AWM (1) 6.2 10.5 13 18.7 18.4 32.7 
			 EEDA 3.2 4.5 5.2 9.5 33.7 22 23.2 
			 EMDA 0.4 2 9.3 5.2 12.6 13.9 18 
			 LDA 4.2 14.4 22 38.2 43.7 46.8 59.2 
			 NWDA 2.5 33 40 63 88 85 91 
			 ONE 10.4 28.5 47.5 45.4 42 53.8 45.6 
			 SEEDA 1.6 5.1 5.5 8.1 18.8 25.9 26.3 
			 SWRDA * 4.1 26.3 20.1 13 16.5 24.4 
			 YF 4.2 44.4 22 38.2 43.7 46.8 59.2 
			 (1 )Due to a change in accounting methods, data are unavailable before 2002.

Small Businesses: Holiday Leave

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the cost to small businesses of the increase in holiday entitlement from 1 April 2009.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 27 March 2009
	The Government worked very closely with small businesses and their representatives during the consultation process and in developing the final regulations. That is why the holiday entitlement was increased in two phases spread over 18 months, and the regulations provided other transitional arrangements, in order to help business make the necessary changes.
	An assessment of the likely effects and costs on business, including on small and medium enterprises, was contained in the final regulatory impact assessment published in June 2007, which can be found on the BERR website at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page36462.html

VAT: Registration

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of businesses not registered for value added tax in  (a) Ochil and South Perthshire constituency,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the UK.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 23 March 2009
	It is estimated that there were 155,425 businesses not registered for VAT in Scotland and 2,705,860 businesses not registered for VAT in the UK at the start of 2007. These are the latest available data.
	Since data are not available at parliamentary constituency level, estimates cannot be made of the number of businesses not registered for VAT in Ochil and South Perthshire constituency.

WPP

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what dates the Secretary of State has met Sir Martin Sorrell since he took up his office.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 30 March 2009
	On 31 October 2008.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Paul Holmes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to answer Question 248248, on loss of departmental property, tabled on 12 January 2009.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column reference 637W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to answer question  (a) 250233,  (b) 250231 and  (c) 250232 on the small firms loan guarantee scheme tabled on 19 January; what the reason for the time taken to reply to each is; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 18 March 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member's questions on 17 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1131-32W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to answer Question 252766, on Heathrow expansion, tabled on 26 January 2009.

Ian Pearson: I replied to the hon. Member's question on 27 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 737-38W.